The question of the days is: which version of Iran is the real one? The confused, chaotic one that conceded six goals to England in their opening match or today’s vibrant incarnation that put Wales to the sword?
Team Melli resurrected in Doha and caught their first win at World Cup 2022, leaving Gareth Bale’s Dragons with one foot out of the door of the competition. Even though their goals only came during added time and with the opposition down by one man, Carlos Queiroz’s boys dominated the encounter and revamped their qualification chances.
Bale’s early scissor kick from a Kieffer More service gave an initial scare to Iran but that was the only thing the Dragons could produce. After Team Melli‘s backup goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini defused the challenge, only one team remained on the pitch – the one dressed in white.
Iran should have opened the scoring in the first half already but Sardar Azmoun’s winning effort was frustrated by his teammate Ali Gholizadeh’s offside position.
The same players hit the post twice in the second half, before an unfortunate, untimed exit from the Welsh goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey knocked Mehdi Taremi down and earned him a red card. When that happened, there were still four minutes left on the clock, plus the usual endless stretch of added time.
The Dragons parked the bus and clung themselves to the goalless score. The plan seemed to work, at least until Rouzbeh Cheshmi disrupted it with a beautiful right foot strike from out of the box. Ramin Rezaeian then made it two, slotting the ball past the Wales’ backup goalie from a fast break. A fair outcome without any shadow of doubt.
And now, watch out for an upcoming Iran vs USA encounter that may result decisive for the qualification to the knockout stage…
MATCH SCORECARD
November 25, 2022 – FIFA World Cup Group B
WALES – IRAN 0-2
SCORERS: 98′ Cheshmi, 101′ Rezaeian
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WALES (3-4-3): Hennessey; Mepham, Rodon, B. Davies; C. Roberts (57′ Johnson), Ramsey (87′ Ward), Ampadu (77′ Allen), N. Williams; Bale 5, Moore 5, Wilson (57′ James) Coach: Page |
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IRAN (4-4-2): H. Hosseini; Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, M. Hosseini, Mohammadi; Gholizadeh (77′ Jahanbakhsh), Nourollahi (77′ Cheshmi), Ezatolahi (83′ Karimi), Hajisafi (77′ Torabi); Taremi, Azmoun (68′ Ansarifard) Coach: Queiroz |
NOTES: Yellow Cards: Rodon (W), Rezaeian, Jahanbak (I); Added Time: 1st Half 1′, 2nd Half 11′
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