For large swaths of the match Spain failed to break down the stout Iranian defense, and Irans equalizer was waived off for being offside. Spain can advance with a win or draw against Morocco next week, while Iran will likely need a win against Portugal.
Heres how Spain beat Iran:
Spain took a 1-0 lead in the 54th minute on an awkward deflection off Diego Costas leg.
Iran had good scoring opportunities in the second half, but failed to pull even.
Earlier, Ronaldo scored his fourth goal of the tournament to lead Portugal to victory over Morocco.
94: Spain Wins!
Its all over in Kazan! Iran fought valiantly, but couldnt score the equalizer. Their players are down on the field, distraught. But their World Cup is far from over thanks to their win against Morocco.
92: Yellow Card for Iran
An ugly tackle by Omid Ebrahimi gets him in the referees book, and earns Spain a free kick from a good position. It fails to beat the first man.
88: Late Heroics?
With added time, we have about five minutes for Iran to find an equalizer.
82: Inches From Equalizing!
Iran nearly scores one of the goals of the tournament. Vahid Amiri nutmegged Pique and teed up a header for Mehdi Taremi at the edge of the six-yard-box, but it goes just over.
Christopher Clarey
? @christophclarey
Pique nutmegged. Iran will always have that
11:12 PM - Jun 20, 2018 Kazan, Russia
79: We Have a Booking
Vahid Amiri with the first yellow card of the match, for a late challenge on Dani Carvajal.
75: Far From Over
Iran is looking lively here! Maybe they will manage an equalizer.
71: Change for Spain
Andres Iniesta, who is still almost as good as hes always been but rarely has the stamina for a full game anymore, goes off for Koke.
70: Chaos at the Iranian Goal
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
A scrum at the Iran goal. Credit John Sibley/Reuters[/caption]Spain gets about six kicks at a ball on the Iranian goal line, but two Iranian defenders go down in the scrum (and on top of the ball), and the Iranian keeper is able to corral it. The opportunity came off a neat little corner kick move.
68: The Fans Are Ready
Christopher Clarey
? @christophclarey
Even though Iran has not yet scored on Spain, I know what it will sound like if they do after that false alarm: deafening
10:54 PM - Jun 20, 2018 Kazan, Russia
63: Iran Goal Called Back!
Iran puts a free kick into the box, and after a scramble Saeid Ezatolahi scores. But he is ruled offside, and the video assistant referee concurs with the assistant referees call. Ezatolahi wasnt offside on the initial free kick, but when a teammate met the ball in the air and headed it off of Ezatolahi, he had strayed a yard offside.
FootyMatrix
@Footy_Matrix#IRN goal is disallowed after VAR judges offside! #WorldCup
10:53 PM - Jun 20, 2018
60: Not Going Away Completely
Vahid Amiri gets a good head on a cross, but his shot goes wide. Iran still hasnt had a shot on goal.
56: Momentum Swing? Doubtful
After a team that is parking the bus gets scored on, they usually open up in the hunt for an equalizer. But it seems unlikely that Iran is really going to chase this game, and will instead hope they can convert the one or two chances theyll get instead.
54: GOAL FOR SPAIN
Majid Hosseini kicks the ball off Diego Costa and into his own goal. Though he didnt know about it, Fox is calling the goal for Costa.
Andrew Das: As soccer super-villain feats go, Diego Costa scoring on a deflection off his knee to break Irans hearts is right up there near the top.
49: Close!
Spain with three great chances to score but are denied! A corner kick dribbles by the goal line but isnt put it, a Busquets shot from outside the box is blocked, and Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand parries the rebound away just before Lucas Vzquez gets there.
46: Coming Up: Goals or Cards?
The second half is underway. With 16 fouls in the first half, right now a yellow card looks more likely than a goal.
Halftime: Irans Strategy Is Working
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
Iran's defense did a lot of this in the first half. Credit Robert Ghement/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock[/caption]The teams go into the break tied, 0-0. Spain has had 82 percent of possession and has taken 10 shots, but, crucially, only one was on target. The Iranian defense has been doing a really good job, though they dont look likely at all to score on the counter attack.
47: Silva Again, Blocked Again
David Silva gets another half-step free and unleashes a shot from the top of the box, but it is blocked out.
Andrew Das: Almost halftime. I hope Iran brought a second trainer to rub all the feet and ankles that got stepped on in the first half.
42: The Bunker Holds
David Silva gets a half second free in the six-yard box, but his shot is blocked by an Iranian defender.
39: Some Testiness!
Diego Costa and Iranian keeper Alireza Beiranvand get into it. Uruguayan referee Cunha Andres is very emphatic, as he is about everything, in telling them to cut it out.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
Iran's Sardar Azmoun (20) battles for control with Spain's Sergio Busquets in the first half. Credit Thanassis Stavrakis/Associated Press[/caption]36: A Chance, Technically
Irans best chance of the match is a corner, but they cant convert.
35: Statistical Analysis: Kinda One-Sided
According to ESPN, Spain has had 82 percent of possession so far. Thats incredible!
Matthew Doyle
? @MattDoyle76
10:05 PM - Jun 20, 2018
32: If It Works, It Works
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
The Iranian defenders spent a lot of time in their own penalty area in the first half. Credit Francois Nel/Getty Images[/caption]Ive been dismissive of Iran, but they are defending extremely well. Theyre not hanging on by the skin of their teeth, but credibly shutting down every Spanish attack.
28: Well Theres This...
Iran controlled the ball for about two minutes, which seems like a big accomplishment.
Andrew Das: You have to wonder if Iran can keep this up for 90 minutes. Possession is three to one for Spain, and its one acrobatic or frantic clearance after another in front of the Iran goal. Its exciting Iranians might call it heroic defending but its hard to sustain over 90 minutes. And were only at the half hour now.
25: Free Kick Is No Trouble for Beiranvand
After another Iranian foul in their own half, David Silva lined up for a 30 yard free kick. His deflected shot was on target, but right into the arms of Alireza Beiranvand, the Iranian keeper.
18: Its Spain 2.0
Spain obviously has a number of incredible passers and dribblers, but this isnt the tiki-taka team of 2010. They have big Diego Costa up front to put passes into, and are looking more for one killer ball than a serious of intricate passes.
Christopher Clarey
? @christophclarey
Iran defending deep in its own half with all 10 field players. Extreme attempt to defuse Spain's short passing genius. So far so good. 20 minutes in, no goals
9:51 PM - Jun 20, 2018 Kazan, Russia
13: An Early Theme
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
Spain couldn't connect successfully on an early cross. Credit Sergey Dolzhenko/Epa-Efe/Rex/Shutterstock[/caption]More of the same, as Spain looks to unlock the compact Iranian defense. We might be repeating this one a fair bit tonight ...
Spain has managed two free kicks near the Iranian goal, but werent able to connect with the subsequent cross either time.
6: Iran Breaks Out
Iran with a good break forward and they eventually earn a free kick near the corner flag, but Spain heads away out of danger.
3: Bus Parked? Bus Parked.
Were just a few minutes in, and Iran already has 10 men behind the ball as Spain passes it around among themselves. It might be a long night for the Iranian defense.
01: We Are Underway!
Spain is in white, Iran is in red.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="675"]
Sergio Ramos Credit Hannah Mckay/Reuters[/caption]Spains Been Here Before
Spain didnt lose a match in qualifying, scoring 36 goals and giving up just 3, only a 1-1 draw at Italy preventing them from winning all 10 games. Then again, La Furia Roja also didnt lose in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, yet were handily bounced in the group stage.
Spains Starting Lineup
Two changes for Spain from the team that drew Portugal. Dani Carvajal replaces Nacho in defense, and Lucas Vazquez replaces Koke in the attack.
1. David De Gea
15. Sergio Ramos
3. Gerard Pique
18. Jordi Alba
2. Dani Carvajal
22. Isco
6. Andres Iniesta
5. Sergio Busquets
19. Diego Costa
21. David Silva
11. Lucas Vazquez
Irans Starting Lineup
1. Alireza Beiranvand
8. Morteza Pouraliganji
19. Majid Hosseini
9. Omid Ebrahimi
3. Ehsan Hajsafi
23. Ramin Rezaeian
11. Vahid Amiri
6. Saeid Ezatolahi
10. Karim Ansarifard
17. Mehdi Taremi
20. Sardar Azmoun
