Arunava about Football A look at football & the world through my eyes!
Related Articles
The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Monday, June 25 evening with Portugal being held to a 1-1 draw by Iran at the Mordovia Arena in Saransk.
From the start, Portugal had more of the ball but without big chances while Iran wanted to hit them on counter attacks and they had chances but could never really finish off their chances.
The goal of the half came on the stroke of half-time with Portugal’s Ricardo Quaresma scoring a long-range beauty beating the outstretched hands of Iran keeper Beiranvand.
VAR was needed to give Portugal a 53rd minute penalty, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty was saved by Iran keeper Beiranvand. This save seemed to rejuvinate Iran, who now played for their lives, but Portugal reacted by play acting, fouls and time wasting while Iran was unable to create real chances.
Towards the end it got worse as Cristiano Ronaldo should have been send off for an intentional elbow, but the weak referee Enrique Caceres only gave him a yellow card similar to goal scorer Ricardo Quaresma who should have also been send off.
But then VAR stepped in again, referee Enrique Caceres needed time to give Iran a penalty for a handball by Cedric. Substitute Karim Ansarifard scored to equalise and now Iran threw everything forward to try and get the other elusive goal, Taremi even had a chance but shot wide and Portugal somehow survived.
FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Group B
Iran 1-1 (1-0) Portugal
Goals: 1-0 Ricardo Quaresma (45′), 1-1 Karim Ansarifard (90’+3)
Iran: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Haji Safi (56′ Mohammadi) – Ezatolahi (76′ Ansarifard) – Jahanbakhsh (70′ Ghoddos), Ebrahimi – Taremi, Amiri – Azmoun
Subs: Abedzadeh, Mazaheri, Khanzadeh, Montazeri, Dejagah, Shojaei, Torabi, Ghoochannejhad
Portugal: Rui Patricio – Cedric, Pepe, José Fonte, Guerreiro – William Carvalho, Adrien Silva – Ricardo Quaresma (70′ Bernardo Silva), Joao Mario (84′ Joao Moutinho) – André Silva (90’+6 Goncalo Guedes), Cristiano Ronaldo
Subs: Beto, Lopes, Bruno Alves, Mario Rui, Ricardo Pereira, Ruben Dias, Bruno Fernandes, Manuel Fernandes, Gelson Martins
Referee: Enrique Caceres (Paraguay)
Man of the Match: Ricardo Quaresma (Portugal)
