Cheshmi's late goal sends Iran to 2-0 win over Wales
As protests that have gripped Iran emerged at the World Cup, its national team rallied late for its first win at the tournament in Qatar.
Rouzbeh Cheshmi scored in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time to break a scoreless stalemate and Iran went on to defeat Wales 2-0 on Friday.
Goal celebrations by the team were in contrast to the scene outside Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, where pro-government fans harassed anti-government national team supporters.
Iran's victory came after a disastrous loss 6-2 to England in the opener in Qatar, as players were dogged by questions about the unrest back in Iran.
“I believe this was the solidarity between the team members that we were able to achieve this result,” Cheshmi said afterward through a translator.
His strike from outside the box was just beyond the diving reach of Wales backup goalkeeper Danny Ward, who was pressed into duty when starter Wayne Hennessey was sent off in the 86th minute for a high challenge on Mehdi Taremi.
Ramin Rezaeian added a second goal moments later and Iran wildly celebrated — tossing coach Carlos Queiroz in the air — while Welsh players dropped in disbelief to the field.
“It was really very emotional, especially because we rebounded from a difficult situation,” Queiroz said, “Nobody likes to lose, and especially when you lose by those numbers. It is a tough job. But this is the beauty of the game, there is only one game in front of you.”
Gareth Bale made his 110th appearance for Wales, the most all-time for the national team, but the Welsh appeared sluggish early after a 1-1 draw with the United States in their Group B opener.
Wales, which fell to last place in the group with the loss, faces a tough challenge in England on Tuesday.
Recovering from the crushing defeat to England, Iran fared better against Wales for its first World Cup win over a European opponent. Iran has never advanced to the knockout round at a World Cup.
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Ecuador striker Énner Valencia scored a World Cupbest third goal in a 1-1 draw against the Netherlands that eliminated host nation Qatar from the tournament.
The draw gave both the Dutch and Ecuador one point apiece to move them to four points in Group A. It left Qatar with zero points after losing 3-1 to Senegal hours earlier.
Ecuador dominated much of the game after Cody Gakpo fired the Dutch into a sixth-minute lead with a rising shot from the edge of the penalty area. It was the fastest goal scored so far in Qatar.
Ecuador leveled in the 49th minute when Valencia passed the ball into an empty net after Pervis Estupiñán's shot was pushed away by goalkeeper Andries Noppert.
World Cup host Qatar was eliminated, just six days and two matches into the tournament.
Qatar can't advance to the knockout round after losing to Ecuador in the opener and to Senegal.
It was the earliest exit by a host nation in the World Cup's 92-year history.