There seems no doubt that LA’s massive Iranian diaspora, for all their unhappiness at having to hear the regime’s anthem, are well and truly behind the players out there on the pitch. They know Iran are chasing this game already, despite enjoying the upper hand in the early exchanges, and every counter-attack and promising move is getting very vocal support.
This game is as open as they come at the moment, end to end. Wood, the chaos-maker, tests Beiranvand but the keeper stands tall.
Iran 0-1 New Zealand, 16 minutes