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The 2018 FIFA World Cup continued on Wednesday, June 20 evening with former champions Spain having to dig deep to beat a fighting Iran at the Kazan Arena.
The less said about the first half, the better, then Spain had no answer and solutions to an ultra-defensive Iran and accordingly the match went into the break goalless.
Thing remained the same after the break but the Spanish attacks were more organised and thought through, but they needed luck and help from Iranian defender Rezaeian, whose effort to clear hit Diego Costa in the 54th minute and the ball went into the Iran goal just a minute after Ansarifard had hit the side-netting at the other end.
Suddenly Iran gave up their defensive tactics and went into attack, they even scored in the 62nd minute but Saeid Ezatolahi’s goal off a free-kick was adjudged as offside. Iran had more chances to equalise but their finishing let them down as Spain just about beat Iran 1-0.
FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 – Group B
Iran 0-1 (0-0) Spain
Goals: 0-1 Diego Costa (54′)
Iran: Beiranvand – Rezaeian, Pouraliganji, Hosseini, Haji Safi (69′ Mohammadi) – Ebrahimi, Ezatolahi, Amiri (86′ Ghoddos) – Taremi, Ansarifard (74′ Jahanbakhsh) – Azmoun
Subs: Abedzadeh, Mazaheri, Khanzadeh, Montazeri, Dejagah, Shojaei, Torabi, Ghoochannejhad
Spain: de Gea – Carvajal, Piqué, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba – Busquets – Silva, Iniesta (71′ Koke) – Vazquez (79′ Asensio), Isco – Diego Costa (89′ Rodrigo Moreno)
Subs: Kepa, Reina, Azpilicueta, Monreal, Nacho, Odriozola, Saul Niguez, Thiago, Iago Aspas
Referee: Andres Cunha (Uruguay)
Man of the Match: Diego Costa (Spain)
