Korea Republic shook off a seven-match winless streak against their nemesis Iran that had haunted them for the past 11 years, in front of a sellout crowd at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Thursday.

Son Heungmin and Kim Younggwon scored in each half as Paulo Bento’s side defeated Iran 2-0 in their ninth match in the final round of the AFC Asian Qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

Tonight’s victory saw the Taegeuk Warriors leapfrog the Team Melli into pole position in Group A with 23 points from seven wins and two draws. Having already qualified for the world finals, Korea Republic will be hoping to advance as group winners with a win over the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.

The victory also marked Korea Republic’s first win over Iran in 11 years, after their eighth attempt since a 1-0 success over the Iranians in the quarter-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2011. Notably, their last win against Iran at home dates way back, 17 years ago, to 2005. The head-to-head records between the sides are now 10 wins, 10 draws and 13 defeats.

The 64,000-seater stadium was open to full capacity for the first time in years, as the fans flocked to the shrine of Korean football. In fact, it was the tenth time that Seoul World Cup Stadium was sold out, for the first time in three years since a friendly with Colombia on March 2019. The attendance of the night was 64,375.

Much to the delight of the full house crowd, Bento deployed a full strength squad at his disposal, bringing on a contingent of European based players: Son Heungmin, Hwang Uijo and Hwang Heechan. Centre forward Hwang Uijo was flanked by Son and Hwang Heechan; Lee Jaesung, Jung Wooyoung and Kwon Changhoon in midfield; Kim Jinsu, Kim Younggwon, Kim Minjae and Kim Taehwan at the back; Kim Seunggyu between the sticks.

However, the hosts struggled to find their feet on the slippery pitch of the newly installed turf in the opening exchanges. Jung failed to control the ball on the edge of the area before the loose ball fell into the path of an onrushing Ehsan Haji Safi, whose pointblank effort from the goalmouth was deflected by a defender.

The men in red soon managed to regroup and fight back through the flanks and set-pieces, although they still lacked some finishing touches. Son sent an inviting cross from the left for Hwang, who failed to time his header from close range. Jung then tried his luck from a free-kick on 28 minutes, but his curling effort from the edge of the box swerved just over the crossbar.

It was Son who eventually found a breakthrough for the hosts, as the Korea Republic captain slalomed through the Iranian rearguard causing all sorts of problems for the visitors. He broke into the edge of the area before unleashing a powerful effort that went in off the outstretched hands of a desperate Amir Abed Zadeh.

Son scored his second goal in as many games for Korea Republic, having opened the scoring in a 1-1 draw with Iran in Tehran in October last year. It was his fourth goal in six matches in the final round of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup this time around.

Korea Republic picked up where they had left off as the second half got underway, and they could have doubled their advantage right after the restart. Hwang Heechan put Son through on goal with only Zadeh to beat, but the keeper did well to parry away the low shot before denying Hwang Uijo again from close range. Moments later, Kwon miscued his volley well over the crossbar following a cross from Kim Jinsu on the left.

But the deadlock was broken shortly after the hour mark, by none other than centre-back Kim Younggwon, who had scored from the similar spot against Germany during the group stage of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: in well-crafted passing moves the ball was delivered from the left through Hwang Heechan and Lee Jaesung, before Kim converted it with his left foot and celebrated the goal by kissing on his wrist – just as he did against Germany four years ago.

Despite taking a seemingly unassailable 2-0 lead, the hosts found themselves on the back foot with ten minutes remaining. Sardar Azmoun’s header off a cross from the right went straight at Kim Seunggyu. Two minutes later, the visitors came tantalisingly close to pulling one back through a counter, only for substitute Allahyar Sayyadmanesh to miss the golden opportunity with only the keeper to beat.

AFC Asian Qualifiers for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Final Round, Group A

Korea Republic 2-0 IR Iran

Scorer: Son Heungmin 45’+2, Kim Younggwon 63’

KOR: Kim Seunggyu; Kim Taehwan, Kim Minjae (Park Jisu 79’), Kim Younggwon, Kim Jinsu; Jung Wooyoung, Lee Jaesung; Hwang Heechan, Kwon Changhoon (Kwon Kyungwon 87’), Son Heungmin; Hwang Uijo (Cho Guesung 67’)