Welsh dreams a thread after Hanging by Iran sickener
IN blistering temperatures at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, the heat was firmly on Wales.
But it proved too hot. Wales’ sloppiness and lack of cutting edge was ruthlessly exposed.
The big guns failed to deliver when it mattered most in what most had billed as a must-win fixture.
Gareth Bale represented his country for the 110th time, taking him beyond Chris Gunter’s record as the mostcapped men’s Welsh footballer.
But the 33-year-old was helpless as his side failed to click in attack.
Aaron Ramsey, again, alarmingly disappointing on the ball and so unusually subdued. Even Wayne Hennessey, flawless until his red card for clattering Mehdi Taremi.
Few could begrudge Iran their place in the spotlight, but it didn’t always appear destined to go this way.
Neco Williams fired over from just outside the box in the second minute, and it typified what was a free-flowing and wideopen start.
Iran looked to get in behind the Welsh defence with balls over the top, but the likes of Joe Rodon and Chris Mepham dealt with that threat time and time again.
Rodon in particular was proving to be Wales’ very own firefighter, relentlessly intervening.
Wales created the best opening of the contest in the 12th minute as Connor Roberts picked out Kieffer Moore, whose poked effort was palmed away by Hossein Hosseini from point-blank range.
Iran thought they had taken the lead as a suicidal pass from Connor Roberts gifted them possession, and they ruthlessly cut through Wales before Ali Gholizadeh tapped home.
The effort was disallowed for offside following a refreshingly swift VAR check.
It was Switzerland at Euro 2020 all over again, they had been rescued. But their fortune was not going to last forever.
Azmoun and Gholizadeh both hit the post in the space of 10 seconds in the second half following a devastating counter attack in what was a huge let off for Rob Page’s side.
The manager had to respond. Daniel James and Brennan Johnson replaced Roberts and Harry Wilson as Wales switched to a back four.
But they were struggling, and Iran were buoyant. A cutting edge in the final third was desperately lacking.
Johnson’s pace gave Wales faint hope, and the Red Wall tried desperately hard to make their voices heard as the contest remained on a knife-edge.
Wales needed their star men, but Bale and Ramsey were unable to influence proceedings, and it was fellow Euro 2016 hero
Hennessey who produced a diving save to deny Saeid Ezatolahi.
Joe Allen was finally summoned. His return was greeted with huge cheers from those Welsh supporters whose nerves were almost shot after their side’s messy and careless second-half showing.
Just as all hope looked lost, Wales carved out an opening. Moore teed up Ben Davies whose rasping effort was tipped over by Hosseini, and it gave the Red Wall hope.
But that evaporated in an instant from yet another counter.
Hennessey charged out of his box and clattered Taremi, earning himself a yellow card. But VAR was once again summoned, and this time, it did not favour Wales. That fortune had finally gone.
Each showing of the incident prompted huge roars from Iran’s supporters, and Hennessey was duly dismissed.
Ali Jahanbakhsh, not one to miss an opportunity, used the moment to rally his supporters.
Gwlad, gwlad was belted out by the Red Wall who did all they could to show support in extreme adversity. But the melting pot of Doha became too much.
Rouzbeh Cheshmi rifled a stunner beyond substitute Danny Ward in the eighth minute of added time before Ramin Rezaeian chipped replacement goalkeeper Danny Ward to spark bedlam among the Iranian fans.
Wales were simply crestfallen.
Several of those in red plummeted to the floor as swathes of white danced around the black and red bowl of the 40,000-seater stadium.
Wales couldn’t handle the heat, and their hopes of reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament for the fourth successive time were left hanging by a thread as a result.
The post-match huddle represented more of an immediate post-mortem than a rallying cry, although the bond with the Red Wall remained strong in tough circumstances. Class was shown as Wales supporters applauded the efforts of those who had just dashed their own hopes.
But ultimately, Wales could not produce when it mattered most, and it leaves them needing what would be a seismic shock next week to ensure they are not heading back to their homeland prematurely.