Ireland qualify despite 1-0 defeat

Ireland, 2-0 ahead from the first leg, buried their playoff jinx by qualifying for the 2002 World Cup finals on Thursday despite a 1-0 defeat by Iran.

Ireland are the 31st of the 32nd teams to qualify for the finals in South Korea and Japan. They will be playing in their third World Cup after 1990 and 1994.

Ireland, knocked out three times in the 1990s in playoffs for major tournaments, kept Iran in check for most of the first half, except for a chance in the 34th minute.

Ali Karimi met a bouncing ball about eight metres out and headed just wide of the right hand post.

Mick McCarthy's side needed a superb diving save from keeper Shay Given to keep the home side at bay in the 55th minute after Karim Bagheri struck a low shot from outside the area.

Iran won back some pride by scoring in injury time through Yahya Golmohammadi but it was too little, too late.

Iran qualified for the 1998 finals in a playoff against Australia after coming back from 2-0 down in the second leg in Melbourne.

Australia play Uruguay in a two-legged playoff to decide the 32nd and last team to qualify for the 2002 finals.