Maldives 0-1 Iran [VIDEO]

AFC - Mohammed Khalatbari's first-half strike was enough to give Iran a 1-0 victory over the Maldives in the second leg of their 2014 FIFA Wolrd Cup second round qualifier on Thursday to see Team Melli advance to the next phase.

The 27-year-old, who last month left AFC Champions League 2011 quarter-finalists Zob Ahan to join Qatar side Al Gharafa, netted the only goal of the game at the National Stadium in the Maldivian capital on the stroke of half-time.

Losing 5-0 to Iran over two legs marks a significant improvement for the Maldives, who lost 26-0 to the same opposition in the qualifying campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.