World Cup 2018 in Russia: Iran seizes 1-0 win over Morocco after injury time own goal

IRAN put Asian football back on the map as an injury-time own goal from Morocco striker Aziz Bouhaddouz gave Carlos Queiroz’s men a stunning 1-0 upset win in St Petersburg.

Iran seizes 1-0 win over Morocco at World Cup after own-goal. Picture: Getty

IRAN has seized a 1-0 victory over Morocco at the World Cup through blind luck after Aziz Bouhaddouz headed a free kick into his own net in the fifth minute of injury time.

Only on the field as a 77th-minute substitute, the Morocco striker dived to reach a curling cross from the left but headed the ball past goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui.

There was an explosion of joy among the Iran squad, with coaching staff and substitutes sprinting onto the field and jumping for joy.

Ramin Rezaeian keeps his eye on Morocco’s Amine Harit. Picture: Getty.

It was Iran’s second win in 13 matches at the World Cup, and Asia’s first since the 2010 tournament in South Africa.

Showing just how much it meant, Iran’s players threw coach Carlos Queiroz into the air after the final whistle. They hugged and danced, savoring the best moment of their careers. Back in Iran, locals poured into the streets in celebration.

Considering Spain and Portugal are the other teams in Group B, the match in St. Petersburg was regarded as a must-win game for the two outsiders.

The result has already left Morocco struggling to stay alive in its first World Cup in 20 years.

Iran players celebrate their incredible success.

Mehdi Taremi puts his body on the line. Picture: Getty.

Morocco boss Herve Renard said his team “fell into the trap” set by Iran, which sat back and relied on the defensive strength that carried the team through Asian qualifying by conceding only two goals in 10 games.

Morocco started well but then faded.

“Our plan from the first minute was to create a mental collapse in the Moroccan players,” Queiroz said.

“We wanted to create frustration and blocking all the playmakers who can create something.”

So maybe it was mental exhaustion that led to Morocco conceding two fouls, one quickly after the other, in injury time. After the second, wide on the left, Ehsan Haji Safi whipped over a cross between the goalkeeper and the retreating defenders.

Saman Ghoddos celebrates his team’s big win. Picture: AFP

Bouhaddouz, covering the near post, dived full stretch. He couldn’t believe where his header ended up.

There was an explosion of joy among the Iran squad as coaches and substitutes leapt out of the dugout and sprinted onto the field to celebrate with the players.

Suddenly, Iran’s blighted and frustrating World Cup buildup - the scrapped friendly matches, the sportswear sanctions from the United States that prevented players from wearing their favorite football shoes - didn’t matter anymore.

“The brilliant attitude, the commitment, the soul, the heart,” Queiroz said.

“We came here without World Cup preparations. We don’t have camps, we have problems ... to (overcome) these difficulties is a source of inspiration, motivation, something special.”

Originally published as World Cup 2018 in Russia: Iran seizes 1-0 win over Morocco after injury time own goal