Iran edge past Morocco in World Cup encounter

Iran won their first World Cup match since 1998 as a 95th-minute Aziz Bouhaddouz own goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Morocco. The game seemed to be headed for a goalless draw until the unchallenged Bouhaddouz managed to head a Ehsan Hajsafi free kick into his own net. Morocco started much the stronger side, […]

Iran won their first World Cup match since 1998 as a 95th-minute Aziz Bouhaddouz own goal gave them a 1-0 victory over Morocco.

The game seemed to be headed for a goalless draw until the unchallenged Bouhaddouz managed to head a Ehsan Hajsafi free kick into his own net.

Morocco started much the stronger side, but the best chance the African side could muster for all their dominance was a goal-mouth scramble when Younes Belhanda saw a shot blocked before Medhi Benatia’s follow up was kept out by goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Iran grew in confidence toward the end of the half and should have been in front when Vahid Amiri sent Sardar Azmoun through on goal, but the "Iranian Messi" got the ball stuck in his feet and by the time he got a shot off goalkeeper Munir had come off his line to make the save.

Shortly afterward, Hajsafi fired narrowly over for Iran from a long-range free kick.

The second half was almost a complete non-event, with the only real chance coming 10 minutes from time as Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech saw his measured strike from the edge of the box pushed around the post by Beiranvand.

And then substitute Bouhaddouz’s last-gasp error sent Iran into wild celebrations.