Iran 0-1 Spain
Spain picked up a crucial three points against Iran tonight thanks to a Diego Costa goal, but it was far from a comfortable night for their fans.
Iran started the second round of games top of Group D after a last-minute own goal gave then an opening-day win over Morocco, but Carlos Queiroz always knew this would be the biggest test of his team.
Spain have been highly tipped as potential World Cup 2018 winners here at SBOBET. But after sensationally parting company with coach Julen Lopetegui, they only managed to draw with a one-man Portugal: Cristiano Ronaldo scored a spectacular hat-trick, including a cleverly won penalty, a gift from Spain keeper David de Gea and a wonderful free-kick.
And news that Ronaldo was on target again as Portugal beat Morocco earlier in the day put that little bit more pressure on Spain as they took the field against Queiroz’ Iran at the Kazan Arena. Hat’s off to Ronaldo by the way, now the highest European scorer in international history!
Highlights of the game
The most popular World Cup 2018 betting tips hadn’t given Iran much attention at the start of the tournament, but there was some talk of the possibility of Spain making a shock early exit in the run-up to this game. Queiroz said his team would need a magic potion to stop their opponents, and there were a few World Cup favourites hoping they had one in their pockets.
Fernando Hierro made two changes to the side which drew with Portugal, bringing in Dani Carvajal and Lucas Vazquez to replace Nacho and Koke in the hope of avoiding the nightmare scenario. But while the opening exchanges were largely a matter of attack versus defence, there were no real scares for Iran. David Silva tried his luck from distance a couple of times but Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand was pretty much untroubled for the opening half hour.
Spain had all the possession with Iran rarely breaking out and Isco threatened the Iran defence with his superb ball control and speed, but they struggled to carve a clear-cut opening. Silva tried an overhead kick from an Andres Iniesta cross, but his effort sailed just over the bar. And that was as close as Spain came in the first half.
When Iran did manage to get the ball in the Spain half, their fans celebrated as if they had scored a goal: such was Spain’s territorial dominance. And they stretched the Spain defence for the first time on 35 minutes, when Sergio Ramos dived full length to head Ramin Rezaeian’s cross out for a corner.
The half-time stalemate was not what Hierro wanted and was one of the World Cup 2018 results in its own right. Twenty-seven places separate the two nations on FIFA Rankings, but you can’t really say Iran had been lucky.
Spain came out for the second half on the attack, as you’d expect, and they came closer than in the whole first 45 on just 48 minutes when Beiranvand made a brilliant double save. First, he stopped a header from Gerard Pique on the line and then leapt to palm away a shot from Sergio Busquets.
Then came a massive scare for Spain when Karim Ansarifard fired a shot into the side netting, but many in the crowd thought it was in. And that fright was exactly what Spain needed as they finally broke the deadlock a minute later.
Diego Costa claimed his third goal of the tournament as he picked up a ball from Iniesta and watched his shot ricochet into the net off a defender. All of Spain breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
But that relief was almost wiped away minutes later as Saeid Ezatolahi poked the ball home from a nod back in the area, but the goal was ruled out after a torturous VAR assessment. Spain desperately tried to put the game to bed in an almighty scramble in the Iran six-yard box, but they were met by a human defensive wall and the margin remained one goal.
The nerves began to shred again as Mehdi Taremi was inches away from getting on the end of a cross from Vahid Amiri. And then as the minutes ticked away, it was Taremi again coming close as he planted a header over the bar.
Key statistics
This was the first meeting between Iran and Spain, and the result went pretty much as expected in the end, though the route there was rather fraught.
Iran remain winless against European opposition in World Cups in seven attempts, but it was another good night for Diego Costa, who netted his ninth goal in his last nine internationals.
What’s next?
Spain plays bottom team Morocco in the next match, and although Herve Renard’s team is pointless they can feel pretty unlucky not to have had some reward for two good performances. So this won’t be a walkover for the Spaniards. They still have work to do.
Iran can still qualify, of course, and they are bound to give Portugal a good game. Whether they can stop Ronaldo is another question.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE WORLD CUP 2018 STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
