AFC - Oman and Iran remain level on points at the top of the Group D standings after the two sides played out a 1-1 draw in their 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying clash at the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex on Thursday.

Saad Al Mukhaini put Oman 1-0 up seven minutes into the second half when the defender tapped the ball home at the far post following Ali Al Busaidi’s cross from the left only for Jalal Hosseini to earn aIran a share a share of the spoils in the 71st minute when the Naft Tehran centre back scrambled the ball home form close  range after the Oman defence failed to clear a free kick.

With both sides picking up a point the Group D standings remain the same with Iran and Oman level on eight points and the three-time Asian champions holding pole position courtesy of a superior goal difference.

The group winners and four best runners-up (total 12 teams) will advance to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup finals and the final round of qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The next best 24 teams from the preliminary stage of the joint qualifiers will compete in a separate competition for the remaining slots (12 slots or 11 slots + 1 slot for the host) in the 24-team 2019 Asian Cup.

NEXT FIXTURES

October 13: Oman v India

November 12: Iran v Turkmenistan