UK fans who stayed up overnight to watch the World Cup were treated to arguably the best match of the tournament so far. A thrilling 2-2 draw between Iran and New Zealand, which saw the Asian team hit back twice through Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi, was cheered on by the Iranian community inside SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
Eli Just was the star for the All Whites, scoring twice with both goals assisted by Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood. A World Cup had never kicked off with a host at war with a participant before. Iran have faced the threat of being unable to take their place at the tournament ever since the United States and Israel launched a bombing campaign back in February, been forced to change training venue from the US to Mexico to combat visa issues, and still had 11 non-playing officials blocked from entering the States for the team’s matches.
‘Lion and Sun’ flags – the emblem of Iran before the 1979 Islamic revolution – were in evidence within the stadium despite FIFA’s efforts to ban them and there was definitely booing of the anthem before the game from Los Angeles’ Iranian diaspora in attendance. Overwhelmingly though, the fans had decided the team were not the regime, and roared them on from the outset.
Iran made the brighter start but fell behind in the seventh minute after Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood held the ball up at well and combined with Just, and the Motherwell man steered a volley past Alireza Behranvand in the Iran goal. Iran captain Mehdi Taremi struck the post after a long run from his own half, and the equaliser came in the 32nd minute as New Zealand defender Finn Surman denied Shahriyar Moghanloo a strike on goal but the ball rolled on to right-back Rezaeian, who poked the ball in after continuing a forward run in the hope of a give and go.
Just scored his and New Zealand’s second 10 minutes into the second half, rounding off a flowing team move, but Iran were level again when Rezaeian swung in a cross from the right and Mohebbi guided a header in off the foot of the post. Both sides had half-chances to win it, but the game ended level.
In the day’s final game, Maxi Araujo rescued a point for Uruguay to deny Saudi Arabia another famous World Cup win as the sides drew 1-1 in Miami. The Saudis, who shocked eventual winners Argentina in their opener at the last World Cup, went ahead through Abdulelah Al-Amri in the first half but came under sustained pressure late on and failed to hold out against the two-time winners.
Federico Vinas saw his header saved by Mohammed Al-Owais after 30 minutes but that was the highlight of a tepid first-half display from Uruguay. The South Americans had already had one warning from a set-piece in the 38th minute when Al-Amri connected with a corner and forced Fernando Muslera into a fine save. Three minutes later, centre-back Al-Amri opened the scoring as he reacted quickest to turn in the rebound after Muslera had kept out Mohamed Kanno’s header.
Vinas forced another save out of Al-Owais before the break and Uruguay dominated possession after the interval, with Manuel Ugarte hitting the post with a low effort from distance after an hour. The pressure finally told with 10 minutes remaining as Araujo steered home an equaliser from close range after Vinas’ header had been saved by Al-Owais. Substitute Brian Rodriguez curled an effort wide from the edge of the box as Uruguay sought a winner and Al-Owais made excellent saves from Nicolas de la Cruz and Federico Valverde in stoppage time.
