PLAYER RATINGS
WALES (3-5-2) TEAM AVERAGE 4.7
WAYNE HENNESSEY 4
Two super saves to deny Sardar Azmoun and Saeid Ezatolahi. But dear oh dear, that decision to charge out of his box and bring down Mehdi Taremi was rash, reckless and costly.
CHRIS MEPHAM 6
Will have some bruised toes after Morteza Pouraliganji stood on his foot. Mepham and his fellow defenders were constantly on the back foot as Iran took charge.
JOE RODON 6
Enthralling battle with Azmoun. Did just enough to force the striker off balance when he struck the post. Fought to the very end, forever alert to Iran’s counter-attacks.
BEN DAVIES 6
Passing was accurate and his long balls were probing, and Hossein Hosseini’s fingertip save denied him what might have been a late winner.
CONNOR ROBERTS 5
VAR got him out of jail after his careless pass saw Iran intercept and score. Thankfully, it was offside. Got further forward than he could against the USA.
AARON RAMSEY 3
Unlike the US draw, Wales dominated possession. But for someone of Ramsey’s standards, he was way too careless on the ball. Not good enough.
ETHAN AMPADU 5
Deepest midfielder but failed to protect the Wales back three. Had to commit the odd tactical foul. Significant call to remove him rather than Ramsey in the second half.
HARRY WILSON 5
Substituted before the hour as Iran sensed that the win was there for the taking. Wilson and his colleagues can start packing their bags.
NECO WILLIAMS 5
Largely limited against the US as he tried to tie down Timothy Weah. Flattened by Ramin Rezaeian here, then bundled over by Ali Gholizadeh.
GARETH BALE 3
Became Wales’ all-time appearance record-holder but won’t recall this anonymous performance with any fondness. Like Ramsey, a passenger.
KIEFFER MOORE 5
Preferred over Dan James up front after heroics against the US. He could and should have scored Wales’ best chance after 11 minutes when he met Roberts’ cross.
SUBSTITUTES BRENNAN JOHNSON (FOR ROBERTS, 57min) 5
Sometimes substitutes become heroes but the ball never fell for Johnson to have his big moment.
DAN JAMES (FOR WILSON, 58) 5
Came on for Wilson but couldn’t turn the Iran tide which was forever flowing towards Wales’ goal.
JOE ALLEN (FOR AMPADU, 77) 3
Gave the ball away immediately before both of Iran’s goals — careless, costly and crushing.
DANNY WARD (FOR RAMSEY, 87) 4
His job was to see out the clean sheet. Instead, he conceded twice in stoppage time.
MANAGER: ROB PAGE 4
Wales had more of the ball but didn’t do anything with it and got what they deserved — nothing.
IRAN (4-1-4-1):
H Hosseini 7.5; Rezaeian 7.5 , M Hosseini 7.5, Pouraliganji 7.5, Mohammadi 7; Ezatolahi 7 (Karimi 83); Gholizadeh 7 (Jahanbakhsh 77 Nourollahi 7 (Cheshmi 78), Hajsafi 7 (Torabi 77), Taremi 8 ; Azmoun 7.5 (Ansarifard 68, 6). Manager: Carlos Queiroz 7.5.
REFEREE: MARIO ESCOBAR 6
The Guatemalan could and should have carded a few Iranians for their roughness but let the physicality go. He also should have known it was a red for Hennessey without the need for VAR.