Iran keeps World Cup dream alive despite losing heartbreaker to Spain
Member of team has to be hospitalized when referee rules second-half equalizer offside, but squad can still qualify for round of 16 with unlikely win against Portugal
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Iran’s soccer team is keeping hopes alive of advancing to the World Cup’s round of 16, even after a heartbreaking 1-0 loss to Spain left them on the ropes.
The squad, which has faced an uphill battle at the soccer tournament partly thanks to international sanctions, had a goal correctly taken away in the second half of Wednesday’s loss, missing out on the potential equalizer during the tense match.
Coach Carlos Queiroz said a member of the team had to be hospitalized after referee Andres Cunha disallowed Saeid Ezatolahi’s goal.
Cunha overturned the goal after an assistant referee and the video assistant signaled that the player was offside.
Another chance went out the window as a late header from Mehdi Taremi flew just over David De Gea’s crossbar after Vahid Amiri had nutmegged Barcelona star Gerard Pique.
Iran still has three points following its opening win over Morocco, and won’t give up on its “dream” of a place in the last 16, said Queiroz.
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“We will keep on working for our dreams, and our dream is to try and qualify for the second round,” said Queiroz.
“We know it will be difficult, but as I said before we came here and didn’t expect easy things. We lost the top spot in the group, but the reality is this: our dream is not over,” he said.
Iran will next face a tough Portugal team, but proved its mettle during the bout with Spain despite being heavily overmatched on paper.
Diego Costa, who scored the winning goal for Spain, rejected claims he intentionally stamped on Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand. But he admitted his crucial match-winner came down to “luck.”
“I had a bit of luck with the goal, but I’m happy because it was a very tight game. The important thing today was to win,” he added.
Spain, looking to emulate its 2010 triumph when Andres Iniesta hit an extra-time winner to deny the Netherlands in the final, now sits top of Group B before a final match against Morocco, who restricted Portugal to a 1-0 win earlier on Wednesday.
An Iran win against a tough Portugal squad on Monday would punch the Persian team’s ticket to the final 16.
Frustrated throughout by a dogged defensive display from Iran, Costa courted first-half controversy when he walked towards the Persepolis shot-stopper as he prepared to kick out the ball.
The Atletico Madrid front man got so close he stood on Beiranvand’s toes, causing the ‘keeper to wince in pain and drop to the ground.
The move went unpunished by Uruguayan referee Andres Cunha, and Costa went on to find the net with a 54th minute strike that rebounded off the leg of defender Ramin Rezaeian.
Asked about the incident afterwards, Costa lashed out by claiming Iran had been the main culprits.
“What game were you watching?” said Costa when probed by a Spanish journalist.
“They were provoking us, we were on the grass all the time, you can’t just say that because it’s your national team.”
AP and TOI staff contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.