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Portugal eliminate Iran from World Cup in fiery 1-1 draw

Portugal advanced to the knockout stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the expense of Iran following a fiery 1-1 draw on Monday.

Karzan Sulaivany 2018/06/25 19:50

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ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – Portugal advanced to the knockout stages of the 2018 FIFA World Cup at the expense of Iran following a fiery 1-1 draw on Monday.

Despite a strong defensive start by Iran, Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma opened the scoring with a sensational finish with the outside of his boot right on the stroke of half-time to send his team into the break 1-0 up.

Portugal was awarded a penalty shot moments after the start of the second-half, but Cristiano Ronaldo saw his spot-kick saved by Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.

Iran was awarded a penalty of their own late in the match which was converted emphatically by Karim Ansarifard in the 90th minute.

In the group’s other game, Spain scored a late equalizer to draw 2-2 with Morocco.

Khalid Boutaib capitalized on a mishap in the Spanish midfield to give Morocco a shock lead after 14 minutes. Spain responded five minutes later through Isco as the teams went into the break level at 1-1.

Morocco regained the lead again with 10 minutes left to play through substitute Youssef En-Nesyri, but Spain’s Iago Aspas struck the equalizer in the 90th.

Spain will join Portugal in the Round of 16 while Morocco and Iran are knocked out.

Spain's forward Rodrigo (left) and Spain's defender Sergio Ramos celebrate their second goal during the 2018 World Cup Group B football match between Spain and Morocco at the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia, on June 25, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Ozan Kose)

Earlier in the day, Uruguay beat host nation Russia 3-0 to finish top of Group A. Both teams had already cemented their spot in the knockout stages of the tournament.

Luis Suarez put the South Americans ahead after 10 minutes before a Denis Cheryshev own-goal in the 23rd.

Things got worse for Russia as defender Igor Smolnikov received a red card in the 36th minute for a second bookable offense.

Edinson Cavani would eventually complete the drubbing by scoring a late third in the 90th minute.

Uruguay's forward Luis Suarez celebrates his team's second goal during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Uruguay and Russia at the Samara Arena in Samara, Russia, on June 25, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Emmanuel Dunand)

In the other Group A match, Saudi Arabia scored late to defeat Egypt 2-1. The result means nothing as the two teams are already eliminated from the competition.

Egypt scored first through talisman Mohamed Salah after 22 minutes.

The Saudis had the chance to equalize from the penalty spot on 41 minutes, but Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, who became the oldest player ever to play at the World Cup at 45-years-old, saved brilliantly from Fahad Al-Muwallad.

However, the referee pointed to the spot four minutes later, and this time Salman Al-Faraj stepped up to convert the spot kick.

Saudi snatched a winner deep into second-half stoppage time to record their first World Cup win since 1994.

Saudi Arabia's forward Salem Al-Dawsari (right) celebrates after scoring the winning goal during the 2018 World Cup Group A football match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt at the Volgograd Arena in Volgograd, Russia, on June 25, 2018. (Photo: AFP/Mark Ralston)

The 2018 FIFA World Cup takes place between June 14 and July 15 with 32 teams from five different confederations competing.

The final will be played on July 15 at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow at 6:00 p.m. Erbil time.

So far, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Peru, Costa Rica, Tunisia, Panama, Poland, and Iran have been eliminated from the tournament.

The nations who have advanced to the Round of 16 are Russia, Uruguay, France, Croatia, Belgium, England, Portugal, and Spain.