A first-half goal credited to Mehdi Mahdavikia but which appeared to take a deflection off some clumsy North Korean defence gave Iran early breathing space in a very tight start to the game.

In the second half, Javad Neokonam capitalised on some brilliant lead-up work by Ali Karmi and Vahid Hasheiman to score from close range in the 79th minute.

The North Koreans, frustrated throughout the game by what they saw as decisions going against them, reacted angrily to not getting a handball verdict in the penalty box in the dying minutes. They converged en masse on referee Mohammed Kousa.

The match was held up for more than five minutes as Kousa retreated from the angry pack of North Korean players and bottles from the crowd were thrown onto the athletics track surrounding the pitch.

Match officials were forced onto the pitch to help Kousa, who finally restored order and handed a red card to North Korean defender Nam Song-Chol.

After the final siren, Kousa and the two other referees were left standing on the pitch for more than 20 minutes as more bottles, some chairs and other objects were thrown from the crowd.

Police lined the athletics track as tens of thousands of fans remained in the stands and booed in an extremely tense stand-off. It ended when the referees finally ran off the pitch as more bottles were thrown in their direction.

Objects were also thrown at the Iranian team, who were forced to stay on the field for about 10 minutes and were then prevented from leaving the stadium immediately after the match by a mob outside.

"My players tried to go to the bus (to leave the stadium) but it was not possible. It was a very dangerous situation," Ivankovic told AFP.

He praised his team for their courage and concentration in playing out the game.

"I am very satisfied with my team because they showed in a really warm situation, they can do everything," he said.

"They showed big courage. They showed they are an excellent team because in this situation it is not easy to win."

Iran have now reached the half-way mark of the qualifying round on seven points. They are in prime position for a World Cup finals berth after a 2-1 home win against Japan last week and a goalless away draw with Bahrain in February.

North Korea languish at the bottom of Group B with no points after three consecutive losses.

The top two teams in Group B gain direct entry into the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

The third-place finishers in the two Asian groups will play off against the fourth-placed team in the North and Central American and Caribbean Zone.

Iran went into the game without inspirational captain Ali Daei, who travelled with the team but did not play after injuring his hamstring in the Japan match.

However, Iran have a depth in attack that is the envy of the rest of Asia, with 2004 Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi, Nekonam and SV Hamburg's Mahdavikia leading the charge on Wednesday.