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Jonathan Howcroft<\/p>\nKey events<\/p>\n
SummaryJonathan Howcroft<\/p>\n
Ben Fisher has filed his match report from Lumen Field, which is my cue to grab a drink and have a lie down. That was quite the climax. Egypt march on, Iran<\/a> are in squeaky bum time, and I will see you back here for more soon. Cheerio!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Of the teams that are guaranteed to be eliminated at this stage only Turkey and Uruguay could be considered major shocks. Turkey bowed out with a morale boosting win over the USA, Uruguay were dragged out kicking and screaming in disgrace against Spain, leaving Marcelo Bielsa\u2019s legacy in question.<\/p>\n double quotation mark\u201cI have not left anything to Uruguayan football,\u201d Bielsa said afterwards. \u201cA coach who has been in a country for three years and not got results cannot say he has made a contribution. Fourth place in the qualifiers has no value and nor does third at the Copa Am\u00e9rica and there is no need to even define this performance [at the World Cup]. My time doesn\u2019t say anything.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe could have seven points but we have two,\u201d Bielsa added. \u201cThis is the result of my management. It was my job to manage a group of players that I did not manage to turn into a force. If you want explanations \u2013 which I don\u2019t think you want \u2013 I would say that of the seven points we deserved, we got two.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s confirmation of Belgium\u2019s rout of New Zealand.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n All of the following have to occur for Iran<\/a> to be knocked out:<\/p>\n Group J \u2013 Algeria and Austria must draw.<\/p>\n Group K \u2013 DR Congo must beat Uzbekistan.<\/p>\n Group L \u2013 Croatia must earn at least a point against Ghana.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Back to Iran\u2026<\/p>\n As Daragh Thomas points out, there are three matches tomorrow that have an impact on their progress and all three need to go against Team Melli to deny them progress. On the prediction markets they are being given an 80% chance to still go through.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n What do we know for certain?<\/p>\n Belgium are through to the round of 32, where they will face a third-place team in Seattle. The Belgians are odds on to face the USA in the round of 16 with Spain looming as the big hitters in that quarter of the bracket.<\/p>\n Egypt are also through to the round of 32, where they will face Australia in Dallas. The winner of that clash are likely to face Argentina in the next round.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Considering everything that Iran\u2019s players have been through already this World Cup<\/a>, it is a heartbreaking end to the group phase and they are set for a nerve-wracking 24 hours as they are no longer in control of their destiny.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Tom Bolger with the email shot on 90 minutes: \u201cThe atmosphere has been much better than the players, especially the second half. Crowd would love to explode for a winner but the teams aren\u2019t interested.\u201d<\/p>\n And now with the email chaser on 90+3: \u201cThe crowd exploded. VAR is the worst.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cExhibit A in showing how VAR has changed what is called offside for the worse,\u201d bemoans Adam Blakeley. \u201cI don\u2019t mind the end result personally but it doesn\u2019t feel right.\u201d I think it would have felt a lot less right to Egypt had the goal have stood, but it is an enormous detriment to the spectacle that a team is no longer able to celebrate such a momentous event without fear of that joy being overturned.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amir Ghalenoei is STILL in his chair in the dugout with a thousand yard stare.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Algeria v Austria in Group J, DR Congo v Uzbekistan in Group K, and Croatia v Ghana in Group L are the three matches that will decide Iran\u2019s fate tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Iran are currently the sixth best of the third-placed teams as things stand. Senegal are now confirmed in the round of 32 in fifth place.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amir Ghalenoei remains impassive in the dugout despite the extraordinary conclusion to a match that looked as though it had ended with his time snatching victory at the death, only for their joy to be erased by a VAR offside call of the narrowest of margins.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Full-time: Egypt 1-1 Iran<\/p>\n Egypt are through to the round of 32 in second place. Iran<\/a> have an agonising wait to see if they are one of the eight best third-placed teams.<\/p>\n Iran’s Shoja Khalilzadeh and Milad Mohammadi look bereft after an incredible finish to the match in Seattle. Photograph: Troy Wayrynen\/IMAGN IMAGES\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.07 EDT<\/p>\n 90+8 mins: Now Iran<\/a> hit the bar! A cross from the right, headed firmly, and Shobeir didn\u2019t get a touch to it. What a climax!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.02 EDT<\/p>\n 90+7 mins: Iran<\/a> come again and Egypt are forced to throw bodies into the way of two goalbound shots!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90+6 mins: What drama late on in Seattle. Iran<\/a> thought they\u2019d sealed progress only to be denied by VAR. Also, Khalilzadeh is booked for taking off his shirt during his goal celebration (not to mention wearing some meme sunglasses).<\/p>\n Share<\/a>NO GOAL! Egypt 1-1 Iran<\/p>\n VAR has curtailed Iran\u2019s delight with an offside call that must be by the narrowest of margins.<\/p>\n Shoja Khalilzadeh is offside! Heartbreak for Iran. Photograph: Dean Mouhtaropoulos\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a001.01 EDT<\/p>\n VAR is checking. This is going to be a tight decision.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n \u2026 but was he offside?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n From the free-kick on the left Iran<\/a> chuck the ball into the box, Shobeir makes a mess of it in the air and as the ball hits the deck there\u2019s a snapshot blocked but the rebound comes out to Khalilzadeh who lashes home! Absolute delirium in the Iran dugout.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>GOAL! Egypt 1-2 Iran (Khalilzadeh, 90+2)<\/p>\n IRAN LEAD!<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90+2 mins: Egypt give the ball away cheaply in midfield and Lasheen is the latest into the referee\u2019s book for an obvious professional foul to halt Iran\u2019s counter.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 90 mins: Six minutes of stoppage time to be played as Jahanbakhsh waits to come on for Iran<\/a>. Mohebi is the man to make way.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 89 mins: Almost! The corner is wicked, right on the goalkeeper\u2019s head, who is swallowed by a crashing wave of white jerseys, one of which belongs to Taremi who flicks a header onto the bar. The whistle went for a foul on the keeper (which wasn\u2019t there) so the goal wouldn\u2019t have counted anyway.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 88 mins: Iran<\/a> decide to attack eventually and win their first corner of the night on the left.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 87 mins: This is defence v defence with Egypt bringing 11 men behind the ball and Iran<\/a> tapping passes to one another in front of them.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 86 mins: Meanwhile in Seattle, both teams seem to have accepted their fate. Egypt will definitely qualify in second place, Iran<\/a> seem happy to try their luck with what might happen tomorrow.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Ha! Now it\u2019s 4-1 Belgium! For a minute Egypt were back on top of the group but Romelu Lukaku has returned the Red Devils to first place almost immediately.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n New Zealand have scored against Belgium, narrowing the margin there to 3-1.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n