Goal

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95'
Bouhaddouz
Press

Match report in news

  • 96'
    FT: Morocco 0 - 1 Iran - A slice of luck hands Iran all three points! Quieroz's side had been sitting back for the final spell of the game, content with a draw, however an own goal from a set piece has given them the win. You have to feel for Aziz Bouhaddouz, as Morocco walk away empty handed in their opening game.
Own goal

Own goal

de Marruecos en el 95'
  • 95'
    GOAL! IRAN! Late heartbreak for Morocco as Bouhaddouz heads it into his own net! Haji Safi delivers the cross, and substitute Bouhaddouz is guarding the front post. The forward is under no pressure, but he panics and heads it past his own goalkeeper into the top corner. He is understandably distraught, having cost his team the game.
Card

Yellow card

a Irán
  • 92'
    There is a bit of commotion on the sidelines after Ansarifard is shown a yellow card. Herve Renard and Carlos Quieroz shake hands, though, and everything calms down a bit.
  • 90'
    We will have six minutes of added time here, after a series of injuries interrupted the second half.
  • 88'
    Iran win a free-kick deep in their own half after a late challenge from Amrabat on Rezaeian.
  • 84'
    Ghoddos comes on in place of Jahanbakhsh.
  • 83'
    Jahanbakhsh is taken off on a stretcher, after suffering an apparent problem with his leg.
Substitution

Substitution

at Marruecos
  • 82'
    Another change. Da Costa replaces Harit.
  • 75'
    Amrabat, who had been having a great game, is replaced by...Amrabat. Nordin's brother, Sofyan Amrabat is his replacement, and Bouhaddouz is also coming on for El Kaabi.
  • 73'
    Amrabat is out cold here, after a body-check from Haji Safi sent him flying, catching his head with his shoulder. The Moroccan defender is struggling to stand up unassisted, and will have to come off.
  • 66'
    Medhi Taremi is coming on for Shojaei, who hands his captain's armband to Safi.
  • 63'
    A bit of dirty play from Belhanda, as he kicks out at his man. Then, Safi is on the receiving end of a challenge from Ziyech, who he feels that the Iranian overreacted.
  • 58'
    Plenty of robust challenges from Iran here, and Morocco are struggling to impose themselves in attack.
  • 55'
    Omid Ebrahimi is down in pain after an awkward fall. He comes off for attention, and the Irani subs begin warming up.
  • 49'
    Harit hits a volley at the back post, after a lovely cross from Amrabat, but it's well off target.
Card

Yellow card

a Irán
  • 47'
    Jahanbakhsh is shown a yellow card for a poor challenge.
  • 46'
    We're back underway!
  • 45'
    HT: Morocco 0 - 0 Iran - The players return to the dressing rooms with the score level. Morocco started fast, and had a series of chances in the opening 15 minutes, but Iran grew into the game, and should have scored just before half-time.
  • 42'
    Big stop from Munir! Iran have a huge chance to score, after Azmoun is played through on the counter by Jahanbakhsh. His strike is blocked, and Munir puts a big hand out to prevent the follow-up going in. Iran should be 0-1 up there.
  • 39'
    Ziyech slices what looks to be a cross into the box, but it finds nobody and Beiranvand is forced to deal with it.
  • 35'
    Jahanbakhsh takes the free kick, and goes for the spectacular, hitting a shot towards goal from around 40 yards out. The idea is good, but the execution not so much, and it blazes way over the bar.
Card

Yellow card

a Marruecos
  • 34'
    El Ahmadi is now shown yellow, after a professional foul on Azmoun. The Iranian midfielder was charging up the field on the counter, and Al Ahmadi hacked at him from behind.
  • 32'
    El Ahmadi is pulled up for a late challenge, however replays show that he got the ball. The delivery is lofted into the box, and Cheshmi has a half-chance on goal, but the angle is too tight.
  • 30'
    Important save from Beiranvand, who holds onto Harit's curling shot from just inside the area.
  • 26'
    Cheshmi takes a painful body-blow from the ball as Belhanda fires a piledriver from about 25 yards out. That will be a stinger, but it's good defending from the centre-back.
  • 20'
    Next, Iran pile upfield on the counter, and come close to getting a goal on the break with a three-on-two.
  • 18'
    Absolute chaos in the Iran box. Morocco try about five times to put the ball in the net after a set piece, but each time their efforts are blocked by either an Iranian player, or goalkeeper Beiranvand. The ball is eventually cleared.
  • 17'
    Amiri is pulled up for a foul on Belhanda.
  • 14'
    Herve Renard's side are controlling the game so far, and haven't really been threatened by Iran.
  • 9'
    And another chance for Morocco. The ball falls to El Kaabi outside the box, but his shot is just wide.
  • 7'
    Harit looks to be hurt after a late challenge, and stays down off the ball, but it seems he will be able to play on.
  • 5'
    Amrabat dinks a ball the Belhanda from the right, but the header is over the top.
  • 4'
    Another decent chance for the Atlas Lions, but Ziyech fluffs a chance just outside the box, after it was rolled to him from a corner.
  • 4'
    Another decent chance for the Atlas Lions, but Ziyech fluffs a chance just outside the box, after it was rolled to him from a corner.
  • 3'
    First chance of the game! Morocco lump a ball upfield and after a knockdown it falls to Harit on the volley. The forward strikes it, but it's just wide.
  • 1'
    Morocco get us underway in Saint Petersburg!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    Now it's time for Iran to sing their anthem. They finish up and a cheer goes around the stadium. KO is imminent.
  • PRVW
    Morocco's national anthem blares out, and kick off is just minutes away.
  • PRVW
    The key man for Morocco is Medhi Benatia, a top class defender who plays at the heart of the Juventus defence. Iran, meanwhile, will be banking on the goalscoring talents of Alkmaar Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who scored 21 goals in the Dutch top flight this season.
  • PRVW
    Despite the fact that the two sides facing off here are relative minnows in the competition, the game is being played at the Krestovsky Stadium, in Saint Petersburg, an arena that hosts just over 68,000 supporters.
  • PRVW
    This is the first time these two teams have faced off in the World Cup, and with neither side fancied to make it out of the group, they will both be keen to begin their challenge against Spain and Portugal with a win.
  • PRVW
    And Iran's first XI: Beiranvand, Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, Hajsafi, Ebrahimi, Masoud, Jahanbakhsh, Ansarifard, Amiri, Azmoun.
  • PRVW
    Here's how Morocco line up: Munir, Amrabat, Benatia, Saïss, Achraf, El Ahmadi, Belhanda, Harit, Boussoufa, Ziyech, El Kaabi.
Info

Pre-match

15 June 2018, 17:00

Referee: Cüneyt Çakır

Stadium: Gazprom Arena

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to the second World Cup game of the day! In the opening game in Group B, Morocco and Iran face off in Saint Petersburg. The two sides are the underdogs of the group, making this a vital game for both teams.