After missing out on the World Cup completely in 2018, the United States Men’s National Team advanced to the knockout stage of the World Cup after defeating Iran 1-0 to give them the second spot in Group B.
Christian Pulisic was the goal-scoring hero for the Americans and Matt Turner continued to keep a clean sheet in open play during this World Cup.
The United States had the first real chance of the match in the ninth minute after the American’s had brought the ball from the right channel into the Iran penalty area. The ball made its way to Antonee Robinson on the left side of the penalty area, whose cross found Yunus Musah. The Valencia-midfielder’s effort skied the net but was the first time the Americans created a chance against Iran’s defense.
Two minutes later, the United States then generated the first chance on goal of the match. Musah crossed a pass into Iran’s penalty area which found the head of Christian Pulisic. However, Pulisic’s header lacked any power and went right into the arms of Iran’s keeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Continuing to pressure Iran’s defense, the United States found success working their offense from the wide parts of the pitch. After a Robinson cross went unclaimed, Sergiño Dest had the ball on the right flank in the 17th minute. Dest slammed a cross past the face of goal that forced Beiranvand to dive and punch the ball clear.
Iran were finally able to generate a counter attack in the 20th minute after a clearance over the top of the American defense was claimed by Mehdi Taremi in-stride. Taremi made his way deep into the American penalty area and passed the ball toward the penalty spot intended for Sardar Azmoun but Tim Ream was able to intervene and thwart the Iranian counterattack.
After an American corner kick was cleared away, Pulisic collected the ball around midfield and found Josh Sargent at the edge of the penalty area. The Norwich City striker’s 28th minute shot was deflected into the air so Tim Weah could get a chance on goal. Unfortunately for the United States, Weah’s shot had minimal power behind it and required very little from Beiranvand to make a save.
Working the right side of the pitch, Dest continued to create for the Americans. Dest made a run in the 33rd minute that had him find Sargent in front of goal. Sargent had no angle for a shot so he passed back to Weah, whose first-touch shot skied the net.
In the 38th minute, a shot finally found the back of the net.
Weston McKennie had the ball in the midfield and crossed it to Dest inside the Iranian penalty area. Dest’s header across the box found Pulisic right in front of goal and the Hershey, Pennsylvania-native tapped the ball in with his right foot to give the United States the 1-0 lead.
Weah and Sargent nearly teamed up for another American chance after the Pulisic goal, but neither forward was sure of himself and Iran were able to go into halftime trailing just 1-0.
Iran were unable to generate a shot in the first half while the United States had nine shots, three on target, while possessing the ball more than 60% of the opening 45.
After replacing Pulisic at halftime, Brenden Aaronson started the first American chance of the second half in the 47th minute. Aaronson collected the ball just past midfield before finding Sargent in-stride at the edge of the penalty area. Sargent’s effort had power behind it, but it was right at Beiranvand, who botched the save before a defender cleared the ball away for Iran.
Iran finally generated its first shot of the match in the 53rd minute and they should have scored on that chance. Ramin Rezaeian’s cross from the right side found the head of substitute Saman Ghoddos right in front of Matt Turner’s goal, but Ghoddos’ header completely missed the net and went out for a goal kick.
Ghoddos had another great chance in front of goal in the 65th minute, but the chance was again wasted when his right-footed effort missed wide of the net.
Iran’s mistake nearly became the United States’ gift after Rezeaian was called for a handball in the center of the field just 22 yards in front of his own net. Musah stepped up to take the free kick for the United States, but his right-footed effort missed high of the net.
After an Iran set piece was initially defending in the 82nd minute, Iran created a chance right in front of goal. Saeid Ezatolahi collected a loose ball on the right side of the pitch and launched a pass into the United States’ penalty area that bounced off both Ali Karimi and recent-substitute Shaq Moore in the direction of Matt Turner, who collected the ball with ease.
Iran had another chance in front of goal, this time coming off a free kick in the second minute of second half stoppage time. The service from Rezaeian found a diving Morteza Pouraliganji’s head, but the effort missed wide of the near-post.
Iran had a last-gasp chance in the 98th minute. The ball was played into the penalty area and just missed the outstretched foot of Mehdi Taremi, who wanted a penalty called against Cameron Carter-Vickers, but none would be forthcoming. That would be the final chance for Iran, who couldn’t find a goal in the over-100 minutes of action.
The United States outshot Iran 12-4 and won the shots on goal battle 5-1 while possessing the ball 51% of the time.
Iran finished play in Group B in third place with three points, all of which came from their 2-0 win over Wales.
The United States finished group play in second place in Group B with 5 points. They will face Netherlands on Saturday in the knockout round.
USMNT
