Finally an Iranian shot
At close range, Ghoddos tries a header, but the frame slips away.
No shot for Iran in the first act
The United States took no shots from Iran in the first half. They had suffered at least two in each period in all their previous World Cup games in the modern era.
Another American corner
The United States get another corner, thanks to Robinson.
Sargent shows up
In the area, Sargent strikes from the left, but Beyravan fends off the danger.
A change everywhere at the break
For Iran, Ghoddos replaces Azmoum. For the United States, Pulisic, the striker who was injured, is replaced by Aaronson.
It’s time for the second period!
The kickoff was given and the United States engaged.
It’s halftime!
After the first 45 minutes of play, the United States lead against Iran (0-1), thanks to a goal from Chelsea midfielder Christian Pulisic (38th).
Weah’s goal… but it’s offside!
In the area, left side, Weah can score from outside the right! But he was offside!
This so precious Pulisic
USA have won each of their last eight games where Christian Pulisic has scored.
Not five but seven minutes of added time
This is what the fourth referee seemed to indicate to Queiroz.
Make way for change on the Iranian side
Karimi enters. Mohammadi is out through injury.
The game resumed
This time, it is Iran who plays ten.
One injured also on the Iranian side
It is Mohammadi who is injured. He is cared for outside the boundaries of the field. We are asking for change.
Additional time?
There will be five minutes minimum.
Iran can’t do it
Pouraliganji is even reported in an offside position.
Pulisic returns!
Pulisic returns to the lawn. He limps but will try to go until the break.
First yellow card of the game
Adams is cautioned for a foul on Hajsafi.
Pulisic back?
Pulisic is trying to toddle out of bounds and could come back.
The ball goes past the goal!
The United States insist in front, in spite of their numerical inferiority. In the area, Sargent shoots from the right, but the ball goes past the goal!
The game resumes
The United States is playing ten. A change seems to be shaping up for Pulisic.
Pulisic got up
But he is in a lot of pain.
The game still has not resumed
In the goal, Pulisic continues to be treated.
Pulisic got injured
Pulisic took the opposing goalkeeper, when concluding. He is on the ground.
Opening of the score for the United States!!!!!
Right side, Dest addresses a perfect center in the surface. In front of goal, Pulisic, in the race, can score, at close range, from the right!
Dest can knock
On this corner, Dest, in the area, strikes from the right, but it is countered by Taremi.
Another corner for the United States
The United States insists on the side. They get a new corner, thanks to Sergiño Dest.
Still no shot for Iran
While the United States already has a total of six.
Weah, that’s not framed!
In the area, Weah takes his chance from the right, but the frame slips away!
Concern for Iran?
The game is stopped, to allow Noorollahi, who remained on the ground in the opposing area, to be treated.
Dest’s little number
Left on the right side, Dest manages to transplant in the axis. At the entrance to the surface, he strikes from the left, but he comes up against the opposing defense and Hosseini, who counters him!
Weah, that lacks power!
From a distance, Sargent takes his chance with the right, but it is countered by Pouraliganji. Weah, in the area, insists, with a header, but Beiravand grabs the ball!
First corner of the game
And it is for the United States, which confirms. A corner obtained by Antonee Robinson.
The ball is for…
the United States (61% ownership against 39% for Iran).
Weah is on fire
Weah sets the opposing defense on fire. On the right side, he ends up seeing his ball end up out of goal.
Successful beginnings?
Holder, Carter-Vickers plays his first minutes in this World Cup.
Big comeback from Ream
Iran goes against, with Azmoum and Taremi. Ream springs up and drives the danger away.
The Americans step up their pressure
Beiranvand is notably obliged to intervene in front of a dangerous opposing center.
We have already reached the first quarter of an hour of play
The two teams continue to neutralize each other. Advantage, certainly, in the United States.
The Pulisic Danger!
In the box, Pulisic can place his head, but Beiranvand can lie down on the ball.
Musah shows up
At the entrance to the surface, Musah controls and connects with a shot from the left, but his ball flies away.
The United States steps up the pressure
The United States pass by the sides and even manage to center, from the left. The Iranian defense remains firmly in place.
The Iranian reaction
The Iranians react well and create panic in the opposing defense. Team USA is struggling to get away, especially against Azmoum.
The United States on the attack
The United States seem to have entered their game better. They try to settle in the opposite camp.
Let’s go for the first period!
The kickoff was given and Iran committed.
No starting MLS player
The United States have no MLS players in their starting XI for a competitive match for only the second time since 1996 (also against Jamaica in the 2011 Gold Cup).
A nice upcoming birthday present for Musah?
Yunus Musah is the second American player to appear in a major FIFA tournament on his birthday, after Gregg Berhalter against Mexico in the 1999 Confederations Cup.
A game for Taremi?
Since the start of this World Cup, Iran’s top scorer has been FC Porto striker Mehdi Taremi (30), who has already scored two goals and also an assist. For their part, the United States scored only one goal, through Lille striker Timothy Weah (22).
The United States has no room for error
For their part, the United States (two draws) are third with two points, the worst attack, tied with Wales (one goal scored) and the best defense (one goal conceded).
Iran can believe it
In the Group B standings, Iran (one win, one loss) is second with three points, the second best attack (four goals scored) and the worst defense (six goals conceded).
The United States, an expected boost
The last victory of the United States dates back to June 11. It was then in the CONCACAF Nations League, against Granada (5-0). Since then, in all competitions, the selection has had one defeat and four draws, including three of its last three outings.
Iran, a series to build at the best of times
All competitions combined, Iran remained on a series of two defeats in a row. Before returning to success, this Friday, in the World Cup, against Wales (0-2).
The Iranian surprise?
The last confrontation between the two selections dates back to June 21, 1998. On the occasion of the World Cup, Iran then beat the United States (1-2), with a goal from McBride (87th) of a side, against achievements of Hamid Estili (40th) and Mehdi Mahdavikia (84th) on the other.
… and on that of the United States
Compared to the last outing, Friday, against England (0-0), Gregg Berhalter makes two changes in his starting XI. Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman (29) and Antalyaspor striker Haji Wright (24) sit on the substitutes’ bench and are replaced by Celtic defender Cameron Carter-Vickers (24) and Norwich striker Joshua Sargent (22).
A 4-3-3 system: Turner – Dest, Carter-Vickers, Ream, Robinson – McKennie, Adams (c), Musah – Weah, Sargent, Pulisic.
Replacements: Horvath (l), Johnson (l), Aaronson, Acosta, De la Torre, Ferreira, Long, Moore, Morris, Reyna, Roldan, Scally, Wright, Yedlin, Zimmerman.
Focus on Iran’s starting line-up…
Compared to the last match, Friday, won against Wales (0-2), Carlos Queiroz makes only one small change in his starting lineup. Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini (30) returns to the bench and is replaced by Persepolis goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand (30).
A 4-3-3 system: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi – Noorollahi, Ezatolahi, Hajsafi (c) – Gholizadeh, Azmoun, Taremi.
Replacements: Abedzadeh (g), Hosseini (g), Niazmand (g), Amiri, Ansarifard, Cheshmi, Ghoddos, Jalali, Kanaani, Karimi, Khalilzadeh, Moharrami, Torabi.
Absent: Jahanbakhsh.
A Spanish referee whistling
At Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, the match will be refereed by Spaniard Antonio Mateu Lahoz.
Hello and welcome to this live
It’s a very important football match tonight in Doha, but it’s also much more than a football match: Iran (3 pts) meets the United States (2 pts) in this match 3 of the group B and the winner will certainly earn a ticket to the round of 16, but the past few days have shown that this match between two geopolitical enemies for more than 40 years is much more than a football encounter.
The American press has also revealed that the families of Iranian players were threatened by the regime.
A clash as rare as it is symbolic, to follow live with commentary from the kick-off at 8 p.m. on the RMC Sport website and app. At the same time, England will face Wales.
#LIVE #IranUnited #States #Americans #closer #eighth
