Morocco vs Iran, Live Score, FIFA World Cup 2018: Teams Locked at 0-0 at Half-time

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Half-time: A good half of football comes to an end between these two teams. Both Morocco and Iran had multiple chances to score goals in the match but excellent defending from both set of defenders spoiled the attackers' party. More of the same is expected in the second half now.

Glorious Chance: Iran had an excellent chance to go 1-0 up against the run of play in the 42^nd minute of the match. Azmoun was played clear on to the goal and he was one on one with the keeper. However, his meek shot was saved by keeper. Match still locked at 0-0.

Yellow Card: Morocco’s Karim El Ahmadi earns a yellow card by tripping while Sardar Azmoun tried to start an Iranian counter attack. It was a rather deliberate attempt to foul and stop the attack from Ahmadi and that’s why he has been shown the yellow card.

Chance: Another chance for Morocco as this time Harit takes the ball inside the D and tries to curl the ball inside the far post. However, he couldn't curl the ball properly and the keeper makes an easy save in the 30th minute. 

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Off a free kick, Ziyech centers the ball for Morocco which has three chances to find the back of the net, but each attempt is blocked. The last attempt by Benatia is parried away by Beiranvand for a corner kick. Another close shave for Iran.

Chance: Golden opportunity for Morocco go ahead once more in the 18th minute but there is a scramble in front of the Iran goal. Thankfully for the Asian side the ball is cleared out safely after multiple saves by the defense. 

Ayoub El Kaabi had a good chance to open the scoring for Morocco but he slices the ball wide of the left post from the penalty spot to add to his team’s many early chances. 15 minutes have been played and the score still reads 0-0, with Morocco hogging majority of the possession at the moment.

Yellow Card: Iran Masoud Shojaei goes in the referee's book for a rough tackle from behind. He is the first player to be shown a card today in this match.

Morocco has two very good attempts, one initially off a corner which was whiffed at, the seconded a header by Younes Belhanda, who misses above the cross bar.

Morocco have started on the front foot and in the first five minutes of the game, they have already threatened the Iranian goal on couple of occasion and one time the ball going over the post from a header. Amine Harit misses wide with the header.

KICK-OFF: And we are underway in St. Petersburg. Morocco is making their first World Cup appearance since France 1998. They are captained by Juventus center back Medhi Benatia, who will look to solidify a defensive line which will also feature one of the youngest players of this World Cup, 19 year old Achraf Hakimi. Iran is looking to bounce back after only securing one point in the 2014 World Cup. They will look for Sardar Azmoun and Alireza Jahanbakhsh to contribute in the attacking third.

The players are now done with their respective national anthems and they are are now shaking hands with one another. It is a real battle between the underdogs and the winner of this match could upset the big boys' progression in the next stage. 

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Iran coach Carlos Queiroz believes his players have been brought closer together by Nike's decision to cut their supply of World Cup kit to the team but the acid test will come against Morocco on Friday. Nike announced they have been forbidden from providing football boots to Iran's squad during the tournament, on account of sanctions imposed against the country by the United States. "It has been a source of inspiration for us. This last comment of Nike was, in my personal view, an unnecessary statement. Everybody is aware about the sanctions.  They should come out and apologise because this arrogant conduct against 23 boys is absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary," Queiroz was quoted as saying by Sky Sports.

Hello and welcome to the live blog of the FIFA World Cup 2018 match between Morocco and Iran which is set to be played at St. Petersburg Stadium. Both teams have almost no chance of making it to the next stage as the other two teams are Spain and Portugal. But the winner of this match will go a long way to progress into the next round.