Follow for all HIGHLIGHTS from the FIFA World Cup Group B clash between Wales and Iran.
Nine minutes added on and Wales has a struggle on its hands to get through this Iran onslaught. Finally, Iran breaks through. It is Rouzbeh Cheshmi who slams it from outside the box Into the right corner for the winner. The joy doesn’t end there. It is Rezaeian who puts the decorations on with a chipped finish following a swift counter-attack. IT IS FULL TIME AND WHAT A GAME IT HAS BEEN. DRAMA ALL AROUND AS IRAN WINS 2-0.
Iran’s hunt for three points continues as Danny Ward comes under the bar for Wales. Taremi is given space to shoot, but his shot goes inches wide.
Hennessey is forced to come off his line after a long ball and it is a foul on Taremi and a red card for him after a VAR check. That is the first red card of the tournament
Hennessey gives away possession cheaply, but Iran can’t make him pay for his error. Wales finally gets into the act and it is Ben Davies with the shot. Hosseini has to be on his toes to push it away.
The heat is getting to the player as cramps seems to be settling in for many. Jahanbakhsh is introduced as Iran continues to push for a winner.
Ezatolahi with a shot from long range and Hennessey has to put in a desperate dive to make a fingertip save. Wales survive, again.
Ezatolahi tries to find a man in the back post. But the header back in is too close to Hennessey. Iran still going at it, but it is not yet happening for the Asian side.
Wales tries to get itself back into the game. A few passes down the right, but no penetration through that side. Azmoun is finally taken off as the game slows a bit down.
Iranian fans are loving the display their side is putting on today. Iran is out on another attack, before it was poked away for a corner. It can’t make Hennessey work this time.
Dan James has been introduced as Wales looks to reverse the trend. Azmoun is down again and his game seems to have ended.
Iran with some slick passes to make its way into the box. Another shot blocked. Iran’s momentum is rising with each passing moment as Wales makes two changes.
IRAN COMESSS CLOSE!!!!! First it is Azmoun who strikes the upright and then Gholizadeh takes it on and smashes one and that too strikes the stick and Taremi’s rebound header is straight at Hennessy. An absurd phase of play.
Azmoun is down following a side-on barge from Nico Williams. He is back soon enough as Iran continues to push on for an opener.
Wales will be hoping for a much improved performance in the second half. Iran begins the proceedings.
Rezaeian tries to thread a through ball for Gholizadeh but overhits the pass. Four minutes added on. Bale is dropping deeper to influence the play. Rezaeian with a first-time cross for Azmoun, who couldn’t stretch himself enough to get to it. Another chance goes wasted for Iran. Rodon wins the first yellow card of the day for a foul on Taremi. Iran piles on the pressure, but to no rewards and that is it for the first half and it is Iran who has been the dominant force.
Wales double down the left flank, but is yet to find luck there. Iran wins a freekick and Hajsafi tries to go deep, but fails to find the right man. Moore with a deft touch to set up Wilson, but his shot was blocked and wins the first corner of the game. Hosseini come out of his line to collect the corner first time.
Iran would love to convert its dominance into a goal. Ramsey finds Nico Williams in space and he had a chance to cross the ball in. But his first touch was poor and that was a chance wasted.
Ramsey with a freekick from deep, but he fails to put the ball in a dangerous area. Wales, barring that Moore effort, hasn’t stretched the Iranian defence yet in this game.
Bale tries to go for the spectacular, but the shot lacked the power to go past Hosseini. Iran looking dangerous in the counter attack.
Iran tries to break through with a counter, but Taremi runs out of space to put a shot in. Azmoun is down with an injury.
Iran’s turn to employ a set piece. It is a freekick from a central area. Azmoun manages to rise highest and heads it, but it is wide. Wales trying to build from the back and Iran’s frontline manages to press them into making mistakes at the back.
Bale wins a freekick for Wales near the right byline. Wilson to take it, but Hosseini punches it away. Iran breaks away on a counter, but this time it can’t bypass the Wales defence.
Iran passes its way past Wales with ease. Azmoun sets up Gholizadeh for a tap in and he duly delvers. But the referee brings it back for an offside. Wales gets a lucky break.
Wales finally gets into the rhythm. Cross from right and Moore is the first to react. he tries to poke it in, but Hosseini is rock solid in goal as he punches it away. Moore is down with a potential injury following that and he receives medical attention.
Azmoun with the first shot of the game for Iran. Tame effort and straight at Hennessey. Great intensity from Iran to start off the game.
Iran is peppering the Welsh backline with long balls from the right flank. Rodon is forced to do a diving header back to the keeper to prevent Taremi from getting on to one such long ball. Crosses are flying in from both wings for Iran.
Wales with the first attack of the game. Wilson finds Williams in space, but his curler didn’t bend all the way through. First shot of the game though.
Five changes for Iran as it looks to recover from the heavy defeat against England. Wales will look to continue its winning momentum.
Iran players do sing their national anthems and the game is about to kick off.
Wales captain Gareth Bale will become its most capped player of all time, overtaking teammate Chris Gunter, who is on the bench for today’s game.
Playing 11
PREVIEW
With goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand likely sidelined after a scary injury in Iran’s World Cup opener, backup Hossein Hosseini has a tall task against Wales and star Gareth Bale.
Iran, in last place in Group B after a 6-2 loss to England, faces Wales on Friday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.
Hosseini has already faced a daunting opponent in Qatar, taking over when Beiranvand was stretchered off in the first half of the tournament-opening loss on Monday before England had opened the scoring.
Beiranvand was allowed to continue playing by Iran’s training staff after a collision with a teammate, but later collapsed to the field and was taken to a local hospital.
Iran was not commenting on his status, except to say that he had a nose injury, he was back with the team and he had undergone tests.
The injury called attention to FIFA’s concussion protocol. If it is determined that Beiranvand had a concussion, he’d be ruled out under FIFA’s return-to-play rules.
Iran head coach Carlos Quieroz was pragmatic following the rout.
“We win or learn. We had the privilege to learn a lot of things with the English team,” he said. “And I will say in conclusion that we’re much better prepared now to play against Wales.”
Bale converted on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute to earn Wales a 1-1 draw with the United States in its opener.
The draw gave Wales a point in its first World Cup match since 1958 and a shot at the knockout round within reach. Bale, who played for Major League Soccer’s LAFC this past season, now has 41 goals in 109 international appearances.
Bale struggled with injuries and fitness for most of the year, but scored on a header for LAFC in the MLS Cup championship earlier this month. LAFC won on a penalty shootout after a 3-3 draw with Philadelphia.
He is not Wales’ only threat. Kieffer Moore, a striker for Bournemouth, could make his first World Cup start. Moore was a second-half sub against the United States and immediately made an impact.
“He made a massive difference for us,” Wales head coach Rob Page said.
Iran, which qualified for the last two World Cups, hasn’t ever advanced to the knockout round. And it doesn’t appear the team will go through this year, either.
Iran’s trip to Qatar has been clouded by unrest at home. The nation, which sits across the Persian Gulf from Qatar, has been rocked by protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died while being held by morality police for allegedly violating the country’s compulsory dress code for women.
Activists called for Iran to be expelled from the World Cup before the tournament started. In their opener, the Iranians did not sing the country’s national anthem in an apparent show of solidarity with protestors.
Hard-line Iranian media sought to blame the loss to England on the unrest. The daily Kayhan said Iran’s rout came after “weeks of unfair and unprecedented psychological warfare against the team... from domestic and foreign-based traitors.”
WHEN AND WHERE TO WATCH
Where will Wales vs Iran World Cup opening match kick-off?
Wales vs Iran match will kick off at the Ahmed Bil Ali Stadium.
When will the Wales vs Iran World Cup opening match kick-off?
Wales vs Iran match will kick-off at 3:30 AM IST on November 25, 2022.
Where can you watch the Wales vs Iran match in India?
The Wales vs Iran World Cup opening match will be telecasted live on Sports18 and Sports18 HD. On Android and well as iOS, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be live streamed on JioCinema.
Where can you watch the Wales vs Iran a match outside India?
The following list shows where you can watch the Wales vs Iran match outside India:
United States – TV: FOX, Telemundo; Live Stream: fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo
Canada – TV: CTV, TSN; Live Stream: fuboTV, TSN app
United Kingdom – TV: BBC One; Live Stream: BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport Website
Australia – TV: SBS; Live Stream: SBS On Demand
New Zealand – TV: Sky Sports; Live Stream: Sky Sport
Malaysia – TV: RTM, Astro; Live Stream: Astro Go
Singapore – TV: Mediacorp Channel 5; Live Stream: StarHub TV+, IPTV, Singtel TV
Hong Kong – TV: BeIN Sports, ITV; Live Stream: Now TV, ViuTV
Nigeria – SuperSport and Showmax Pro
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