Izuchukwu Okosi
Iran recovered from a damming 6-2 defeat against the Three Lions of England in their first Group B match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on Monday with a 2-0 win over Wales Friday afternoon.
Iran had a goal ruled out for offside when Ali Gholizadeh supposedly scored for the Asians in the 16th minute when he received the ball outside the box after a one-two pass exchange with SardarAzmoun.
However the goal was ruled out for offside after VAR checks. Azmoun could have taken the shot himself, but instead fed Gholizadeh who was clearly in an offside position.
Wales were wasteful in the attack in the first half. They had plethora of chances to go ahead themselves but all efforts were repelled by the Iranians.
Iran then scored twice as the game ebbs away first through striker Roozbeh Cheshmi eight minutes before full time and another by Ramin Rezaeian which now puts the Welsh side in danger of elimination.
The goals were the reward for a disciplined performance by the Iranians whose numerical advantage also counted for something following the red card to Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey in the 86th minute.
Former Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey was substituted for Leicester City goalkeeper Danny Ward.
The win enhanced Iran’s possibility to advance out of the group, potentially at the expense of the United States. The teams meet on Tuesday in the final game of the group stage.
Wales back at the World Cup since 1958 faces England in the final match on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, former Super Eagles captain Austin Jay Jay Okocha thumbed up the Iranians as worthy winners of the clash during his analysis of the game on Supersport, official broadcasters of the tournament in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Yes (it was a late drama) they left it late (in reference to Iran) well deserved as well because in the second half they kept probing.
“They (Iran) were the better team I think and got rewarded.
“Maybe we will say the red card (to Wayne Hennessey) contributed to it but the Welsh team never looked as if they were willing to come out and win the game.
“They were very defensive and got punished as well,” the onetime PSG and Bolton Wanderers midfielder noted.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
