Full-time: Iran 0-1 Spain Almost!! Spain has started the second-half well. A cross into the box is cleared only as far out as Busquets whose shot is parried on to the path of Lucas Vazquez by the Iranian goalkeeper. But he recovers quickly and palms it away before Vazquez knocked it in.
That was coming, wasn’t it! Spain takes the lead and it is that man Diego Costa who scores. The move was all Iniesta’s brilliance. The playmaker got the ball in midfield, jinked and turned past a couple of defenders before finding Costa inside the area who turned a sent a left-footed effort into the bottom corner.
Now Iran has to come out of their shells…
Iran thought they had equalised but VAR says no. A freekick was whipped in and it finds its way to Ezatolahi who converts but the VAR spotted an offside in the build-up. Spain’s lead is intact.
Almighty scramble. Isco plays a corner along the touchline to Silva who pulls it back to Ramos whose shot from close-range is blocked by a host of bodies. 2 or 3 Spain players try to knock it in but Iranian defenders are not having it. Bodies on the line!
Spain was living dangerously in the last minutes. Iran was breaking forward in search of a goal and almost find it. Amiri leaves Pique red-faced with a nutmeg on the left flank before picking out Taremi with a delicious cross but the striker’s header is agonisingly over the bar from close-range. Warning signs?
That’s that. Spain holds on to notch their first win of the World Cup and go joint-top of Group B. Iran fought valiantly and defended stoutly but lacked that bit of quality in attack and could not take their chance. They now have an important game against Portugal coming up while Spain faces Morocco who is already out.
Source: News365coza
