AFC - Iran went top of Group D of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifiers on goal difference following Thursday’s 3-1 win over Turkmenistan.

With former leaders Oman not in action until Tuesday, Iran went into their fifth match of the qualifiers knowing a victory would lift them above the Gulf Sultanate to the top of the table.

And Team Melli took just six minutes to take the lead against the Turkmen, with Morteza Pouraliganji scoring his second international goal following the China-based defender’s maiden strike in Iran’s 2015 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final against Iraq.

The Tianjin Teda centre back’s goal was all that separated the two sides until the 62nd minute when defender Mekan Saparov drew the visitors level only for midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi, who has joined Russian side Rostov after a spell in Spain with Atletico Madrid’s reserves, to restore Iran’s lead just two minutes later.

Iran’s slender advantage remained until the 83rd minute when former Germany youth international Ashkan Dejagah settled the nerves of the fans at the Azadi Stadium when he successfully converted a late penalty, sealing the win that took Carlos Quieroz’s side level with Oman on 11 points.

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.