The 2002 FIFA World Cup UEFA–AFC qualification play-off was a two-legged home-and-away tie between a group runner-up of the European qualifying tournament, the Republic of Ireland, and the winners of the AFC play-off, Iran. The games were played on 10 November and 15 November 2001 in Dublin and Tehran, respectively.
Ireland beat Iran 2–0 in the first leg held in Dublin, while in the second leg, Iran defeated Ireland 1–0 in Tehran. The Irish side won the series 2–1 on aggregate, therefore qualifying to the World Cup.
Venues
Background Republic of IrelandRoundIranTeam107303372624107302351824106223092120102261026-168102261331-188100010536-310Final standingsTeam85211789178431107315824289−1108215910−178044515−104AFC play-offOpponentResult1st leg (H)1–02nd leg (A)3–0
Match details
First leg
GK 1 Shay GivenCB 6 Roy Keane (c)CB 4 Gary BreenCB 5 Steve Staunton RWB 2 Steve Finnan LWB 3 Ian HarteCM 7 Jason McAteer CM 8 Matt HollandCM 11Kevin KilbaneCF 9 Niall QuinnCF 10Robbie KeaneSubstitutions:GK 16Dean KielyDF 12Gary Kelly DF 13Kenny Cunningham MF 15Mark KinsellaMF 17Lee CarsleyFW 18Clinton MorrisonFW 14David ConnollyManager:Mick McCarthy
GK 12Ebrahim MirzapourRB 5 Afshin Peyrovani CB 15Yahya Golmohammadi CB 24Rahman RezaeiLB 3 Mehrdad MinavandCM 6 Karim BagheriCM 7 Hamed KavianpourRW 2 Mehdi MahdavikiaAM 8 Ali KarimiLW 11Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht CF 10Ali Daei (c)Substitutions:MF 9 Sirous DinmohammadiMF 13Javad NekounamFW 14Mojahed Khaziravi FW 18Ali SamerehDF 20Behrouz RahbarifarFW 21Faraz FatemiGK 22Davoud FanaeiManager: Miroslav Blažević
Assistant referees: Jorge Oliveira (Brazil) Aristeu Tavares (Brazil) Fourth official: Paulo César de Oliveira (Brazil)Match rules 90 minutes 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted
Second leg
GK 12Ebrahim MirzapourRB 5 Afshin PeyrovaniCB 15Yahya GolmohammadiCB 24Rahman RezaeiLB 3 Mehrdad MinavandCM 6 Karim Bagheri CM 7 Hamed KavianpourRW 2 Mehdi Mahdavikia AM 8 Ali KarimiLW 11Alireza Vahedi NikbakhtCF 10Ali Daei (c)Substitutions:MF 9 Sirous DinmohammadiDF 13Javad NekounamMF 14Mojahed KhaziraviMF 17Pejman JamshidiMF 18Ali SamerehFW 20Behrouz RahbarifarGK 22Davoud FanaeiManager: Miroslav Blažević
GK 1 Shay GivenCB 6 Mark KinsellaCB 4 Gary BreenCB 5 Steve Staunton (c)RWB 2 Steve FinnanLWB 3 Ian HarteCM 7 Jason McAteer CM 8 Matt HollandCM 11Kevin Kilbane CF 9 David ConnollyCF 10Robbie Keane Substitutions:GK 16Alan Kelly Jr.DF 12Gary Kelly DF 13Kenny CunninghamFW 17Niall QuinnMF 14Lee CarsleyFW 18Clinton Morrison DF 15Andy O'BrienManager:Mick McCarthy
Assistant referees: Erick Mora (Costa Rica) Efraín Rodríguez (Costa Rica) Fourth official: Olger Mejías Ovares (Costa Rica)Match rules: 90 minutes 30 minutes of extra-time if necessary Penalty shoot-out if scores still level: 3 (of 7) substitutions permitted
Aftermath The elimination saw Iran manager Miroslav Blažević step down to be replaced by his assistant, Branko Ivanković.
The Republic of Ireland qualified to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and were drawn into Group E with Germany, Cameroon and Saudi Arabia. They drew with Cameroon and Germany with a score of 1–1 and in the final match, they won 3–0 against Saudi Arabia. This qualified them to the Round of 16 but they were eliminated by Spain on penalties (2–3) after the match ended in a 1–1 draw.
References