South Korea fell to Iran 1-0 in their World Cup qualifier here Tuesday.

At Azadi Stadium, Javad Nekounam's second-half score gave the 10-man Iranian team a huge victory in their Group A contest in the ongoing final World Cup qualification round.

With the win, Iran pulled even with South Korea at seven points in Group A. South Korea remains at the top of the table, however, thanks to the goal difference advantage.

Following a corner, Nekounam hammered home the loose ball from near the penalty area in the 76th minute, and South Korean goalkeeper Jung Sung-ryong had no chance against the hard shot.

Iran played most of the second half a man down, after midfielder Masoud Shojaei was sent off in tears on his second yellow in the 53rd. The visiting team failed to take advantage and managed only one serious scoring chance in the second half, as Yun Suk-young's strike from the top of the box barely sailed over the crossbar in the 84th.

Both teams started out cautiously, and South Korea's Kim Bo-kyung had his header go off the bar and then the leg of Iranian goalkeeper Seyed Rahmati in the 27th.

Before a full house at Azadi, the Iranians appeared even more rejuvenated following Shojaei's departure. Nekounam almost put Iran ahead in the 66th, as he forced Jung to make a tough punching save on a bouncing header from point-blank range.

This was the final World Cup qualifier of the year for South Korea. Iran will host Uzbekistan on Nov. 14 for their next qualifying contest.

South Korea is seeking its eighth consecutive World Cup appearance and ninth overall. It was a surprise semifinalist at the 2002 tournament that it co-hosted with Japan and reached the second round at the 2010 event in South Africa. (Yonhap News)