Fifa
Iran clinched a famous 1-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup Group B opener on Friday courtsey an own goal in the dying minutes of added time.
Updated : Jun 16, 2018, 12:22 AM IST
Iran clinched a famous 1-0 win over Morocco in their World Cup Group B opener on Friday courtsey an own goal in the dying minutes of added time.
The goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The match looked set for a 0-0 draw until Ehsan Hajsafi curled in a free kick from the left wing which Bouhaddouz tried to intercept at the near-post but instead steered it into the goal.
It was heart-breaking for Morocco, making their first finals appearance for 20 years, but after starting brightly they will rue their cautious second-half display.
Morocco keeper Munir Mohamedi had earlier made a smart double save to deny Sardar Azmoun's sharp shot and Alireza Jahanbakhsh's looping follow-up while Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand also had to stay alert when he went full-length to touch away Hakim Ziyech's low volley.
Moracco had much the best of the contest but Iran's famed defence again proved unbreachable.
The two outsiders in a group also containing Spain and Portugal were relatively cautious in a game neither can afford to lose, though after Morocco fashioned a handful of half-chances they needed a good save to deny Sardar Azmoun just before the interval.