1998 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC–OFC play-off) explained

1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
(AFC–OFC play-off)
Event:1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
Team1:Iran
Team1score:3
Team2:Australia
Team2association:
Team2score:3
Details:3–3 on aggregate, Iran won on away goals
Firstleg:First leg
Team1score1:1
Team2score1:1
Date1:22 November 1997
Stadium1:Azadi Stadium
City1:Tehran
Referee1:Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)
Attendance1:128,000[1]
Secondleg:Second leg
Team1score2:2
Team2score2:2
Date2:29 November 1997
Stadium2:Melbourne Cricket Ground
City2:Melbourne
Referee2:Sándor Puhl (Hungary)
Attendance2:85,022
Previous:1994
Next:2002

The 1998 FIFA World Cup AFC–OFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between the winners of the Oceania qualifying tournament, Australia, and the losing team in the AFC play-off from the Asian qualifying tournament, Iran. The games were played on 22 and 29 November 1997 in Tehran and Melbourne respectively. Australia was hoping to play in the FIFA World Cup for the first time since 1974 and Iran in 1978.

Background

IranRoundAustralia
width=165 style="text-align:left;"Team
842286214
8332138512
83231114−311
8314710−310
822478−18
Final standings
Team
44002622412
4112721−144
4013212−101
OpponentResultFinal roundOpponentResult
(N)2–3 (a.e.t.)1st leg (A)3–0
2nd leg (H)2–0

Play-off match

First leg

Prior to arrival in Tehran, Terry Venables and others involved in the Australian national team had made negative comments about Iran, stating it as being dangerous, and going so far as to bring their own drinking water for their stay.

The first leg of the play-off, on 22 November 1997, took place in Tehran, Iran, with the result a 1–1 draw. Attendance for this match was extremely high, as 128,000 fans packed Azadi Stadium, despite it only having a capacity for 100,000 fans at the time.[1]

GK 1 Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh (c)
DF2 Mehdi Mahdavikia
DF 4
DF 16Reza Shahroudi
DF 5 Afshin Peyrovani
MF7
MF9 Hamid Estili
FW20
FW23Naeim Saadavi
FW11Khodadad Azizi
FW10Ali Daei
Substitutions:
GK 22Nima Nakisa
DF15Ali Akbar Ostad-Asadi
MF8 Majid Namjoo-Motlagh
MF25Mehrdad Minavand
DF24Javad Zarincheh
FW19
MF18
Manager:
Valdeir Vieira
GK 1 Mark Bosnich
DF 4 Steve Horvat
DF2 Craig Moore
DF5 Alex Tobin (c)
MF7
MF6 Ned Zelić
MF8 Craig Foster
MF10
MF3 Tony Vidmar
FW9 Mark Viduka
FW 11
Substitutions:
GK 22Željko Kalac
12Milan Ivanović
13
14
15Josip Skoko
16
17John Aloisi
Manager:
Terry Venables
width=50% valign=topOFFICIALS width=50% valign=topMATCH RULES

Second leg

The second leg, held on 29 November at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, had a crowd of 85,022. With Australia holding a 1–0 lead at half-time and scoring a second goal just after the break, it looked likely that they would progress to the World Cup. Immediately following Australia's second goal, spectator Peter Hore, known for disrupting major events, ran onto the field and cut up Iran's goal net, causing a halt in play.[2] [3] However, Australia's dominance continued until a controversial booking of Harry Kewell following a collision with Iranian goalkeeper Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh in the 72nd minute. This seemed to quell the Australians' momentum, as an Iranian revival, led by Khodadad Azizi, saw Iran score two quick goals to make the score 3–3 on aggregate, with Iran progressing on away goals.

Despite being undefeated throughout their entire qualifying campaign, Australia had again failed to qualify for the World Cup finals. Along with host nation and eventual winner France (who as host nation did not need to qualify), and Saint Kitts and Nevis, Australia were one of three teams to not lose a game in the entire campaign. The broadcast of the game on SBS featured closing comments from a clearly distraught Les Murray and Johnny Warren, with Warren openly weeping on air. In 2000, coach Terry Venables said the game was "one of the saddest sporting moments of my life."[4]

GK1Mark Bosnich
DF 4Steve Horvat
DF2
DF5Alex Tobin (c)
DF3Stan Lazaridis
MF7
MF6Ned Zelić
MF8Craig Foster
MF10
FW 11
FW 9Mark Viduka
Substitutions:
GK22Zeljko Kalac
12Milan Ivanović
19
14
15Josip Skoko
16
17John Aloisi
Manager:
Terry Venables
GK1Ahmadreza Abedzadeh (c)
DF 4
DF 5Afshin Peyrovani
DF20Mehdi Pashazadeh
MF 23
MF2
MF6v
MF 16
MF 9Hamid Reza Estili
FW11Khodadad Azizi
FW10Ali Daei
Substitutions:
GK22Nima Nakisa
15
8Majid Namjoo-Motlagh
25Mehrdad Minavand
24Javad Zarincheh
7
18
Manager:
Valdeir Vieira
width=50% valign=topOFFICIALS width=50% valign=topMATCH RULES
  • 90 minutes
  • 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level:
  • 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20130425053310/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/matches/qualifiers/match=8705/index.html Classic Football Matches Qualifiers – FIFA.com
  2. News: Davidson . John . Socceroos' Tehran return revives memories of Iran heartbreak . SBS . 22 March 2017.
  3. News: No Tehran bedlam for Socceroos 20 years on . ABC News . 22 March 2017.
  4. The Mourning After documentary, SBS, 2000

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