The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)

Portugal

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— was denied on a penalty by Beiranvand.

Karim Ansarifard scored a late penalty for Iran, which need to win to advance but couldn’t break through a second time despite a furious charge in the waning minutes.

Spain won the group after its 2-2 draw with Morocco. Both Spain and Portugal had a goal difference of plus-1, but Spain scored six goals in its three group matches while Portugal had five.

Spain will next face host Russia on Sunday in Moscow.

Quaresma had never scored in a World Cup game; he had nine internatio­nal goals in 78 previous appearance­s. But his goal had all the flare of a Ronaldo strike. He sent the shot with the outside of his right foot right into the far corner near the end of the first half.

Not bad for someone who had played little more than 20 minutes as a substitute in Portugal’s first two games. Ronaldo certainly looked impressed, wrapping his right arm around Quaresma’s shoulders as he roared and raised his left fist into the air.

Ronaldo has now missed six of his last 14 penalty kicks, but he wasn’t the only big star to miss one in this tournament. Argentina forward Lionel Messi also was denied in his team’s opening draw against Iceland.

Ronaldo’s penalty was awarded after the use of video review following an apparent takedown of the Portugal forward by Saeid Ezatolahi in the area. The Iranian team, already aggrieved by the replay system overturnin­g a goal against Spain, reacted angrily. Players swarmed Paraguayan referee Enrique Caceres, who initially had waved play on after Ronaldo went down.

Beiranvand made it a moot point, but normally defensive-minded Iran still needed to score multiple goals to advance, and they were unable to do so against a squad that won the 2016 European Championsh­ip by virtue of its own strong defensive play.

Iran has now been to five World Cups — all since 1978 — but has yet to advance out of group play. Its players collapsed on the field at the final whistle while Portugal’s somewhat muted celebratio­n had more the look of relief.

 ?? DARKO BANDIC — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ?? Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, reacts after receiving a foul by Iran’s Saeid Ezatolahi, top left, during the group B match between Iran and Portugal at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia, Monday.
DARKO BANDIC — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, right, reacts after receiving a foul by Iran’s Saeid Ezatolahi, top left, during the group B match between Iran and Portugal at the 2018 soccer World Cup at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk, Russia, Monday.

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