Iran has secured a home win against Jordan thanks to a strike by captain Javad Nekounam, earning a first victory after failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

In an Asian Cup qualification soccer match on Saturday, the Iranian squad gave a lackluster performance against a ten-man Jordan squad at Tehran's Azadi Stadium.

The two sides failed to create chances in the first half, displaying a stagnant performance.

However, Nekounam's 72nd minute diving header brought joy to some 15,000 fans, who were attending the match.

Two minutes after the goal, Jordan's Mohammad Shelbaieh was sent off. Iran tops Group E with seven points.

"I wasn't satisfied with my squad's performance in the first half. Jordan played a closed game and slowed the game's pace in the first interval," Iran manager Afshin Qotbi said after the match.

In the second half, "the lads displayed a fast-paced and energetic performance, but they still need to learn to stay focused in tough situations," Qotbi added.

In another match of the group, Thailand defeated Singapore 3-1 to stand in second place with five points from three matches. Singapore slips to third on three points.

The top two sides from the group qualify for the 2011 finals in Qatar.

AGB/SC/MMN