Press TV - Russia has held the Iran men’s national football team, also known as Team Melli, to a draw in an international friendly match played as part of preparations for the 2018 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup.

On Tuesday evening, 26-year-old Russian professional footballer Dmitry Dmitriyevich Poloz, who plays as a second striker for Zenit St. Petersburg, scored a goal with a quarter of an hour to go to salvage a 1-1 draw at Kazan Arena in the southwestern Russian city of Kazan, which is located on the banks of the Volga and Kazanka rivers.

Poloz was free at the box in the 74th minute to meet a pass from a teammate. He well placed the ball between Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and the post to stun the visitors, and deny Iran a victorious departure.

Iranian professional footballer Sardar Azmoun, who plays as a forward for Russian side Rubin Kazan, put Team Melli ahead with a flawlessly executed kick in the 58th minute, giving Russian goalie Andrey Lunyov no chance to save.

On June 12, the Iran national football team defeated Uzbekistan 2-0 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, and became the first Asian team - and the third squad after Brazil and hosts Russia - to secure its place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Azmoun opened the scoring for the host team in the 23rd minute.

Mehdi Taremi found the back of the net from inside the area in the 88th minute, and finished off the White Wolves.

This is the second time in a row that Team Melli has won the ticket for the FIFA World Cup finals under the tutelage of its 64-year-old Portuguese head coach Carlos Queiroz.