The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Diego Costa,
Hierro’s men survive scare after going in front through striker’s ricocheted effort
right, celebrates with Isco after his goal gave Spain a 1-0 win over Iran in last night’s World Cup Group B game at the Kazan Arena.
IRAN0 SPAIN 1
Diego Costa’s second-half strike proved enough for Spain to squeeze past Iran in Kazan and move into a commanding position in their bid to qualify from Group B.
Costa broke Iran’s sturdy resistance with a slightly fortuitous 54th-minute goal, and the Spaniards were lucky to hold on to their lead with Saeid Ezatolahi’s effort ruled out for offside after a video assistant referee check six minutes later.
Their 1-0 win leaves Fernando Hierro’s men joint-top of their World Cup group with Portugal on four points, but Iran still have plenty to play for just a point behind heading into their final match.
The favourites dominated the first period but were continually frustrated in their quest to break down a resolute Iran side steeled by their dramatic opening win over Morocco.
David Silva fired a 25th-minute free-kick straight at Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand, and the busy Ezatolahi dispossessed Andres Iniesta as he shaped to shoot on the half-hour.
Defending deeply, it seemed evident the Iranians were playing for set-pieces and Spanish frustration spilled over after Beiranvand’s over-the-top reaction to a clash with Costa.
The first half ended with Silva twice denied by a wall of Iranian defenders and half-time merely paused the inevitable as Spain set out in the second half with renewed intent.
Beiranvand hooked a Gerard Pique effort off his line then pulled off a fortunate double save to deny first Sergio Busquets then Lucas Vazquez.
Iran almost grabbed the lead out of nowhere in the 53rd minute when Karim Ansarifard lashed a low shot from the left flank which squeezed into the side-netting.
And Spain made them pay within a minute when Costa turned on an Iniesta through-ball in the box and steered home, after the ball had ricocheted off Ramin Rezaeian and back on to the striker.
Far from signalling a renewed spell of Spanish dominance, the goal revitalised Iran and they thought they had equalised on the hour when Ezatolahi prodded home.
However, the referee ruled the strike out after a VAR check for offside.
Iran belatedly continued to press and they almost grabbed an equaliser again nine minutes from time when Mehdi Taremi headed just over after Vahid Amiri beat Pique and crossed from the left.
Iran take on Portugal in their final group game on Monday knowing a win would take them through to the last 16.
Boss Carlos Quieroz said: “We showed that we were ready to suffer and ready to compete. I felt we deserved a better result.
“There’s no doubt Spain play wonderful, stylish football but I thought we deserved more for the way we played.
“But congratulations to Fernando Hierro and Spain. We will learn a lot from this game.
“If you think of it like tennis, we had one match point today and we will have another against Portugal.
“Everything is still open. We are still alive and still dreaming.”