World Cup: Iran 1 Morocco 0

Morocco

IMAGE: Iran's Karim Ansarifard in action with Morocco's Nordin Amrabat. Photograph: Henry Romero/Reuters

Iran won their first World Cup match since 1998. Their winner came deep into added time and was a gift from Morroco's substitute Aziz Bouhaddouz.

He scored past his own goalkeeper.

Earlier, Iran's famed defence again proved unbreachable for the first half of their World Cup Group B opener against Morocco on Friday as the African nation had much the best of the contest.

 

The two outsiders in a group also containing Spain and Portugal were relatively cautious in a game neither can afford to lose, though after Morocco fashioned a handful of half-chances they needed a good save to deny Sardar Azmoun just before the interval.