Iran edge Morocco at the death [VIDEO]

BBC – ST. PETERSBURG, Iran won their first match at a World Cup finals since 1998 as Morocco substitute Aziz Bouhaddouz scored an own goal in injury time.

Bouhaddouz put the ball into his own net with a diving header at the near post in the 95th minute as Morocco defended a left-wing free-kick.

The result was harsh on the African side, who had wasted numerous chances in the first half and were denied late on when Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand produced a fine save from Hakim Ziyech.

But Iran took the victory, only their second in World Cup history after a 2-1 win over the United States at France 1998.

Morocco became the second African side to concede a late winning goal in the World Cup on Friday, after Egypt lost 1-0 to Uruguay in Group A, thanks to a last-minute header from Jose Gimenez.

A vital three points for Iran
Both Morocco and Iran impressed in qualifying with Morocco only conceding one goal in their eight games, while Iran remained unbeaten and only let in five goals in their 18 qualifying matches.

However, they were both left rueing the draw that saw them placed in the same group as 2010 winners Spain and European champions Portugal, with only the top two sides advancing to the last 16.

Spain and Portugal, 10th and fourth in the world rankings respectively, have won four major tournaments between them in the past 10 years. Before the match, Iran’s coach Carlos Queiroz said his side had been “drawn in the hardest group in the World Cup”.

Going into injury time in St Petersburg, it looked like being a result neither Morocco or Iran wanted, before Morocco’s Sofyan Amrabat conceded a needless free-kick by fouling Saman Ghoddos near the corner flag.

But that gave Ehsan Haji Safi the opportunity to whip in the free-kick, and Bouhaddouz could only steer the ball into his own net for an unlikely Iran victory.

Morocco will now need a positive result when they play Portugal on Wednesday, 20 June (13:00 BST), before Iran play Spain at 19:00 BST on the same day.

*Iran won just their second match at the World Cup (drew three, lost eight), with this their first since beating USA in June 1998.

*Iran kept only their second World Cup clean sheet – their other came in a goalless draw with Nigeria in June 2014.

*Iran have conceded just two goals in their last four matches, keeping three clean sheets.

*Carlos Queiroz has never lost against an African nation at the World Cup (won one, drew two), keeping three clean sheets in those matches.

*This was the first victory by an Asian team against an African team in the World Cup finals since Japan won 1-0 against Cameroon in June 2010.

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said: “The first games are always difficult and very tough and this one was not different, but this one was also beautiful, a great match.

“We knew they had a very strong and powerful way they start the games but our strategy was from the first minute to create a mental collapse in the Morocco players and we tried to do that by creating frustration and blocking the playmakers.

“In the first half we started to jump out and the most open opportunities belonged to Iran and we were able to create panic in their defence and then the game changed.

“From then on the Morocco players knew we could win the game. You need a bit of luck, Morocco are a great team, great players, but I’m sure they did not expect a tough, courageous team from Iran.”