So much LATE DRAMA: Iran defeat Wales 2-0 in extra time.

Iran were victorious in their clash against Wales where they dominated the game and deserved to win from the start.

Wales and Iran failed to win in the 1st round of the 2022 World Cup. The Welsh drew with the United States, and the team of Carlos Queiroz lost to England 6-2. Because of this result, the head coach of the Iranian national team made four changes to his squad for the match with Wales. And it worked.

From the first minute, Wales had the ball, but their advantage wasn't evident. Iran played counterattacking football and scored a goal in the 16th minute. Connor Roberts decided to perform a risky cross from the right flank to the center, which was intercepted. Iran carried out a quick attacking combination in the center, as a result, Sardar Azmun brought Ali Gholizadeh one on one, number 17 left the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the already empty net. The players of the Iranian team celebrated the goal with restraint and looked at the side referee, who did not record an offside. But the VAR referees ruled otherwise and canceled the goal. If Azmun had shot on goal himself (and the position was excellent), the goal would have been counted.

After the half-time break, Wales miraculously escaped a goal twice. In the 51st minute, a cutting pass to Sardar Azmun ended with his shot to the near post, and a minute later, Ali Gholizadeh hit the frame with a shot from outside the penalty area. Wayne Hennessy quickly reacted to the rebound and did not allow the Iranian forward to finish it off. Wales coach Robert Page tried to rectify the situation by making two substitutions: he brought on Brennan Johnson and Daniel James. But the Welsh game plan has not changed. In the 65th minute of the match, Mehdi Taremi shot hard into the bottom corner - Wayne Hennessy saved again.

Iran was better at everything. It seemed that the Europeans were losing every single 50/50 challenge. Iranian attacks eventually led to the fact that the goalkeeper of the Wales team left his team with ten men. On the 86th, Hennessy ran out of the penalty area and took out Mehdi Taremi. The referee of the match, Mario Escobar, showed the goalkeeper a yellow card, but, after watching the replay, he changed his mind and gave a red card to the Welsh goalkeeper.

Danny Ward came out to defend the Wales goal for the remainder of the half. But he did not cope well with Iranian pressure. In the eighth minute of extra time, Rouzbeh Cheshmi's shot from outside the penalty area brought victory to his team - 1:0. And a few moments later Ramin Rezaeian skillfully chipped the ball over Danny Ward - 2:0. Iran rightly put the squeeze on their opponent, scoring the latest game-winning goal in the World Cup history.

The 2-0 victory put Iran in second place in Group B. Now Carlos Queiroz's team has a good chance of reaching the playoffs. The Iranian national team will play the final game in the group stage on November 29 against the United States.

by footballmegaminds