First Leg: A Tense Battle in Capital
The first leg was held on 22 November 1997 at Tehran’s iconic Azadi Stadium, which was packed with approximately 128,000 fervent Iranian supporters. The atmosphere was electric, as fans hoped to witness their national team take a decisive step toward World Cup qualification. However, the match ended in a 1–1 draw, leaving the tie finely poised.
Australia’s manager, Terry Venables, and other officials had made controversial comments before the match, criticizing Iran and even bringing their own drinking water under the pretext of a “famine” in the country. These remarks fueled tensions between the teams and fans, adding to the significance of the contest.
During the match, Australia struck first, with Harry Kewell scoring in the first half. Iran struggled to find an equalizer, but their persistence paid off when Khodad Azizi capitalized on a cross from Mehdi Mahdavikia to level the score. Although Iran had the home advantage, the result gave Australia confidence heading into the second leg in Melbourne.