FIFA World Cup 2018, Spain vs Iran, Highlights: As it Happened

SPAIN WIN: Spain hold on to their lead to register a 1-0 victory over Iran. 

It's final two minutes of the match and Iran are still working hard to get their first goal. They have increased the frequency of attacks by a considerable margin. But can they find the net?

CHANCE: Iran nearly equalised. Amiri gets a great cross that beat Pique. Taremi comes in with a header but the ball goes over the goalpost. De Gea heaves a sigh of relief. 

Amiri gets a yellow card as he tries to tackle Carvajal. Iran is giving it their everything at the moment, but luck hasn't been on their side tonight. Just seven minutes left for the final whistle. 

Vazquez  earns a free kick inside the box, but Iran wall does well to block the shot. But Spain retains the possession. Can Iran find an equaliser in the dying minutes of the game?

CHANCE: Iran is certainly putting in a lot of effort in attack now. They come tantalisingly close to scoring after the ball is floated in Spanish box just ahead of the attackers. 

Diego Costa's #WorldCup so far:#POR⚽️⚽️#IRN ⚽️#IRNESP pic.twitter.com/fX4EoWnc16

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 20, 2018

CHANCE: It was a great corner by Spain and Iniesta is in action once more. The ball goes to Ramos and takes a shot at the goal. They come close to getting second goal of the night, but somehow Iran prevent it.

Even though the goal might have been denied to Iran, this chance has given them enough confidence to launch attacks against the Spanish defence. They would look to attack a little more in the game with 20 minutes to go in the game. 

GOAL DENIED: It was a glorious moment for Iran as they had scored too. But then they were denied the goal after the VAR confirmed that it was an offside. 

And Iran too is not bowing down without a chance here. Taremi flicks a header towards goal, but it goes wide to De Gea's left. Can Iran make a comeback here?

For the first time since 1954, there's not been a single 0-0 draw in the opening 20 matches.

Goals. #IRNESP pic.twitter.com/GV7d4YG3lk

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 20, 2018

The goal has come right after Iran were close to scoring a goal. But it looks like that Iran will go into a shell now after conceding the goal.

GOAL: Here comes the goal from Spain. Diego Costa strikes in the 54th minute here. He gets a good ball from Iniesta in the box and doesn't have any problem in netting the ball. Spain lead 1-0.

There is a flurry of attack from the Spanish side. This time it is Busquets who fires a shot from the left flank. But Iran keeper saves that one too. But Spain retain the possession. Spain have come out with renewed energy in this half. They look team on a mission.

CHANCE: It looks like Iran have come into the match just to defend. No matter what Spain comes up with, Iran defence has an answer to it. Isco gets a corner and is flicked by Pique. There is a lot of commotion in the box, but Spain doesn't find success here.

The second half is underway. Spain has a lot to improve upon here. And Spain start with another penetration in Iran's half, but the result was no different from the previous occasions. The ball is defended well by Iran.

In the first half, Diego Costa hasn't been in action. Now the onus will be on Hierro to change the tactics accordingly. As for Iran, they would love to continue the way they have played so far. A few more attacks could even see them mount enough pressure to score a goal, perhaps.

Lots of noise, but no goals...#IRNESP pic.twitter.com/jEQ6iecKzr

— FIFA World Cup 🏆 (@FIFAWorldCup) June 20, 2018

HALF-TIME: It has been a rather disappointing performance from Spain till now as they haven't been able to score a goal till now despite chances galore. And again David Silva comes in from the left flank takes a shot at the goal. But that has been defended well by Iran. Score remains 0-0 at half-time.

Iranian players are coming down like a pack of cards. First it's skipper Safi who requires medical attention, and then Diego Costa treads on Bieranvand's toe. 

Iran comes up with a good chance from the right flank. But Sergio Ramos heads a cross from Rezaeian to ward off the danger. And the action moves back in the Iranian half again.

Another chance here for Spain as Iniesta floats the ball to Isco inside the box. Spain gets a corner. Silva takes a shot but the ball goes over cross bar. Great work by Spain here.

It's all too good for Iran at the moment who have done extremely well to prevent Spain from scoring. But having said that one goal from Spain will totally change the match for Iran. They haven't have much to show as far as attack is concerned, while Spain is making a lot of chances. 

Spain finally has a shot on target in the 24th minute. That speaks volumes about Iran's defence. David Silva takes a shot that is deflected by the wall, but keeper Beiranvand does well to grab it.

Most of the action till now has unfolded in Iranian half. But their defence has been as good  as ever. But that has meant that Spain has got their share of free kicks. After 20 minutes of the match too, the score remains at 0-0. 

CHANCE: This was a great chance for underdogs Iran to score, but there wasn't much support for the forward line. Despite a chance here and there, Spain hasn't given anything away. In fact Spain has kept Iranian defence busy by continuous penetrations. 

Busquets is brought down by Azmoun, earning a warning from the referee. David Silva takes the free kick and clips a cross to Ramos. He heads the ball to the goal, but the ball is well cleared by Iranian defenders.

FREE KICK: Spain has a free kick here after Isco stumbles on the ground after a tackle. But the shot was well guarded by Sardar Azmoun.

STAT ATTACK: Iran have just conceded 11 goals in the last 25 games, so they will again depend a lot on their defence. But what remains to be seen that whether they can withstand La Roja force.