CNN
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Two late targets secured Iran a sensational 2-0 win towards Wales to take care of its hopes of qualifying for the World Cup knockout phases.
Rouzbeh Cheshmi struck from distance to brilliantly give Iran the lead within the 98th minute, whereas Ramin Rezaeian sealed the win within the one hundred and first minute, securing Iran its first factors of the match.
Each targets got here after Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey had been despatched off within the second half for a rash problem exterior his space, changing into the primary participant on this match to be proven a purple card.
Iran created the higher possibilities and was a deserved winner in a match full of rigidity as each groups wanted victories to spice up their probabilities of progressing from Group B.
Iran’s gamers joined within the singing of the nationwide anthem forward of Friday’s match, whereas on the similar time, boos might be heard contained in the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.
Throughout the taking part in of the nationwide anthems earlier than Iran’s opening match towards England on Monday, the Iranian gamers stood silent in what was broadly interpreted as a present of solidarity with these protesting again residence.
Iran is showing at this World Cup beneath the shadow of home turmoil, with this sport going down a day after the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, stated that the nation is in a “full-fledged human rights disaster” as authorities clamp down on anti-regime dissidents.
Protests, referred to by consultants as probably the most vital because the institution of clerical rule following the 1979 Iranian Revolution, and violence have rocked Iran in current months and threatened the very nature of the nation’s regime, which has been in energy for greater than 40 years.
It was sparked by the loss of life of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old girl who died after being detained by Iran’s morality police, allegedly for not abiding by the nation’s conservative gown code. Iranian safety forces have unleashed a violent response.
After the heavy 6-2 defeat by England, Iran performed a lot better in its second match.
The rating was goalless on the break after a nervy opening 45 minutes on a sweltering day in Al Rayyan. Wales striker Kieffer Moore had one of the best probability of the half, someway heading broad when free on purpose.
Although Ali Gholizadeh thought he had put Iran forward, the video assistant referee (VAR) dominated out the purpose for offside.
Iran star Sardar Azmoun twice hit the submit early within the second half as Iran set the tempo and Wales rode its luck, and it regarded as if each groups would share a degree every earlier than Cheshmi opened the scoring – sending Iranian followers into celebrations and muting the Welsh contingent.
Elsewhere, World Cup host Qatar is out of the match after a second successive loss, dropping 3-1 to Senegal.
The Maroon grew to become the primary host nation in World Cup historical past to be knocked out after solely two video games.
Qatari followers shall be disenchanted with a mediocre efficiency from a group that has been 12 years within the making and got here into the match as Asian champions.
Qatar was a lot improved from its opening day loss to Ecuador, nevertheless it was overpowered by a Senegal group that lastly arrived on the World Cup. Senegal’s victory was the primary time an African group had received at Qatar 2022.
The Netherlands and Ecuador sealed Qatar’s destiny after they performed out an entertaining 1-1 draw.
The Dutch raced right into a lead, scoring the quickest purpose of the match from new star Cody Gakpo’s stellar strike.
However the Oranje have been unable to regulate the sport because the younger Ecuador group fought its approach again into the sport, grabbing a deserved equalizer early within the second half by talisman Enner Valencia.
The Maroon grew to become the primary host nation in World Cup historical past to be knocked out after solely two video games.
