Wales Vs Iran
0 - 2
What it all means
Wales aren’t out, but they need snookers now. Iran will almost certainly go through if they beat the USA and may well do so with a draw, though that depends on what happens between England and the USA tonight.
Let’s be clear: Iran were deserved winners. They were the stronger team even before Wayne Hennessey was sent off, and kept playing with purpose and belief even when it looked like time was up. They scored in the 98th and 101st minutes, shattering the Wales players in the process.
Wales threw everyone forward and paid the price. It was a four-on-two break, finished delightfully by the relentless, indefatigable right-back Ramin Rezaeian. Ansarifard put him through with a square pass on the edge of the area; he drew Ward and lifted the ball slowly, teasingly, joyously over him.
Devastation for Wales, and sheer, frenzied joy for Iran. A low cross from the left wasn’t cleared properly by Joe Allen and ran to the substitute Cheshmi, 25 yards from goal. He half-controlled it on the stretch, ran after the loose ball and whistled a brilliant curling shot towards goal. It brushed the fingertips of the diving Ward and nestled in the bottom-right corner. My word.
GOAL! Wales 0-1 Iran (Cheshmi 90+8)
What a goal from Rouzbeh Cheshmi!
GOAL! Wales 0-2 Iran (Rezaeian 90+11)
It’s all over now!