Iran make most of good fortune and other talking points from late win over Morocco

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  • Substitute Aziz Bouhaddouz’s 95th-minute own goal provided heartbreak for Morocco and joy for Iran as they began Group B at World Cup 2018 with a fortuitous – and valuable – 1-0 win.

    Caution had ruled the day at Saint Petersburg Stadium previously. But a free-kick deep into added time was ruinously headed home by the St. Pauli centre forward to hand Team Melli just their second-ever victory in the tournament.

    Here are the talking points:

    SLIM PICKINGS IN SAINT PETERSBURG

    Anyone expecting a World Cup classic would have been well advised to look elsewhere.

    Stoicism rather than style defined both combatants in qualifying – and the same was true in the competition proper. The late own goal provided a fitting denouement.

    Morocco, to earn their first appearance since 1998, conceded no goals in the stringent final round of CAF qualifying. Iran saved the concession of their only two goals in the same stage of the AFC process for the last fixture against Syria.

    By half-time, only two shots on target apiece had been registered. Iran’s pair came from Rubin Kazan striker Sardor Azmoun’s spurned one-on-one and AZ Alkmaar forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s subsequent rebound in the 42nd minute, while an earlier goalmouth scramble was the highlight for the toothless Atlas Lions.

    After the break, Ajax talent Hakim Ziyech forced a fine low save from team Melli goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand. Then, the drama followed through replacement Bouhaddouz’s infamous interjection.

    For Morocco, they possessed creation in spades through Al Jazira centre midfielder Mbark Boussoufa, Galatasaray playmaker Younes Belhanda and Ziyech – a player with an African high 11 assists in qualifying and 2017/18 Eredivisie best of 15.

    Yet, the latter two dropped deep and were then detailed to ping harmless long balls into the channels against a deep-lying – and grateful – Iran defence.

    Carlos Queiroz’s men hung in there and embraced their moment of fortune. This now piles pressure on Portugal in the likely race for second spot.

    GOLDEN BOY IS LOSING HIS SHINE

    Azmoun was the emerging wonder boy four years ago, surprisingly cut in the final stages from Iran’s World Cup squad for Brazil.

    This time, he arrived in Russia – the land of his employment with Rubin – with an impressive 23 international goals in 33 appearances. A true heir to the bullish Ali Daei.

    Yet, 2017/18 witnessed the first backwards steps in a career defined by its precipitous rise.

    His summer return to Rubin from Rostov was contested. Then, only five goals followed in 28 matches.

    Uncertainty defined both his failed first-half one-on-one and woeful second-half pass to Olympiakos attacker Karim Ansarifard.

    Showcasing his true quality in the games to come is key to reinforcing Iran’s hopes of a debut knockout-stage run.

    FBL-WC-2018-MATCH4-MAR-IRI

    ASIA’S SHOT IN THE ARM

    The recriminations have been predictably hyperbolic since Saudi Arabia’s 5-0 thumping by hosts Russia on Thursday night.

    ‘How could they let these teams in?’, was the predictable statement.

    What the floundering Green Falcons produced was embarrassing for all concerned. But these aspersions shouldn’t be extended to the whole continent.

    Iran did not produce magical football on Friday in Asia’s first World Cup victory since 2010, enjoying just 37-per-cent possession. A repetition of becoming the first team since 1966 to score a goal in a half of football in the World Cup without attempting a single shot in that half is not likely to be repeated.

    Mitigation is provided by the cancellation of pre-event friendlies because of organisational and political issues.

    They also flew through Asian qualifying, boast an abundance of talented players in Europe and should only get better from here.

    Australia, Japan and South Korea can be inspired by this granite performance.

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