CHRISTIAN AID BUOYS STATES
CHRISTIAN PULISIC scored the goal that sent the USA into the last 16 but paid the price for his heroics.
The Chelsea winger produced a superb firsttime finish to put Gregg Berhalter’s side ahead as the States reached the World Cup knockout stage for only the sixth time.
But Pulisic (above) collided with the Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand as he scored his 38th-minute winner.
The American needed several minutes’ treatment and did not emerge for the second half.He was taken to hospital for scans, making him a doubt for Saturday’s tie against Holland.
The USA knew they had to win to go through and were far the better side against an Iran team who lacked the zeal and a clinical touch of their opponents.
The last World Cup clash between the two nations, at the 1998 World Cup, which Iran won 2-1, was judged one of the most politically charged matches in history.
This encounter was also played against a backdrop of seething animosity, the US Football Federation stirring tensions in the build-up by displaying the Iran national flag on social media without the emblem of the Islamic Republic.
They said it was to show support for women in Iran, protesting against their subordination at the hands of the country’s hardline government.
Iran called on FIFA to kick the USA out of the World Cup, the row adding an extra edge to a contest between two nations who have had no diplomatic relations since 1980.
The USA showed great enterprise and energy throughout and got the goal their first-half dominance warranted, Weston McKennie picking out Sergino Dest with a fine crossfield ball.
Dest planted a header back across the face of the Iran goal and Pulisic was first to it to turn the ball into the net. But that effectively ended his night.
The USA should have made it 2-0 just before the break, through a rapid counter-attack involving Tyler Adams, Josh Sargent and Timothy Weah, but the latter chose the wrong option, playing an extra pass when he should have had a shot.
Adams played Weah through in first-half added time, with the striker applying a sublime firsttime finish into the far corner of the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Iran ended the half without a single effort on goal, only the fourth side to fail to do so at the tournament.
An equaliser would have sent them through and they had chances late on, through substitute Saman Ghoddos and Morteza Pouraliganji, but the night belonged to the USA.