THRILLS, CHILLS!
Spirited Iran come close to eliminating Portugal; Spain too survive Morocco scare in last round game
Saransk (Russia), June 26: Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty before Portugal conceded an injury-time spot-kick in a 11 draw with Iran at the World Cup on Monday as the European champions set up a Last 16 clash with Uruguay.
Ricardo Quaresma curled in a trademark trivela goal on the stroke of half-time at the Mordovia Arena, but Karim Ansarifard’s late penalty dropped Portugal to second in Group ‘B’ behind neighbours Spain.
Iran earned a stoppage-time penalty, again with the help of VAR, when Sardar Azmoun’s header struck the arm of Cedric after the pair contested a deep cross.
Substitute Ansarifard buried his effort into the roof of the net to set up a dramatic finish.
Mehdi Taremi could have snatched a stunning winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran fell agonisingly short.
Quaresma fired Portugal ahead just before the interval when he exchanged passes with Adrien Silva before bending home in style from the edge of the area with the outside of his right foot.
Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead in five minutes into the second half after he was upended by Ezatolahi, with a spot-kick awarded following consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR).
But the Portugal captain was denied by Beiranvand who dived to his left to smother Ronaldo’s attempt.
Earlier, Ronaldo, scorer of all four Portugal goals in his country’s first two games, forced Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand into an early save after barging his way into the box.
Portugal will face Uruguay in Sochi on July 30 for a place in the quarterfinals after ending Iran’s hopes of reaching the knockout phase for the first time.
The first conclusion I draw is that despite all these challenges we ended on top. I’m looking at the silver lining. Obviously we can improve. Five goals in three matches is not the way forward. The players are professional, they understand what the situation is.
Fernando Hierro, Spain coach I don’t want to talk too much, it’s about my country and a player. I know it’ll be a war against me. But the reality is you stopped the game for VAR, there is an elbow. An elbow is a red card in the rules. In the rules it doesn’t say if it is (Lionel) Messi or Ronaldo... Carlos Queiroz, Iran’s Portuguese coach We’re happy we’ve finished top of the group, that’s what we wanted. Maybe we wanted to feel differently after the match but we’re happy to go on. Now we are facing the moment of truth. I have complete faith in this team.
Isco, Spain goal-scorer
“I think we did very well, we have achieved our goal and now we have to recover and think about the next match,” said Quaresma.
Fernando Santos will hope Joao Moutinho recovers after the Monaco midfielder was restricted to a late substitute appearance in Saransk because of illness, with Quaresma one of three changes to the team that defeated Morocco 1-0.
Joao Mario should have put Portugal in front after a mix-up between Saeid Ezatolahi and Beiranvand, but he blazed over.
Iran’s first genuine sight of goal came on 34 minutes when Ezatolahi directed a firm header from a freekick straight into the grateful hands of Rui Patricio.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz remonstrated angrily with the officials as Saman Ghoddos appeared to be impeded by William Carvalho inside the area.
There was no VAR intervention on that occasion, but referee Enrique Caceres trotted over to the pitchside monitor after an altercation between Ronaldo and Morteza Pouraliganji.
Ronaldo caught the Iran defender with a forearm across the face, Pouraliganji falling to the ground in a heap as the Portugal forward ultimately escaped with a yellow card.