World Cup 2018: Spain beat Iran thanks to Diego Costa goal
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World Cup 2018: Iran 0-1 Spain highlights
Spain edged out a gallant Iran in an absorbing contest to ensure they will reach the World Cup knockout stage with a win in their final group game.
The 2010 champions needed a fortuitous Diego Costa goal after half-time, having been frustrated in an opening period in which they had 81% of possession.
Iran, who defended admirably until the ball ricocheted in off Costa, instantly showed more intent and thought they had levelled, only for Saeid Ezatolahi's strike to be ruled out for offside.
Carlos Queiroz's Iran side had gone close through Karim Ansarifard and Mehdi Taremi before the crucial offside call and their endeavour throughout seemed to endear them to the crowd at the Kazan Arena.
They survived a chaotic goalmouth scramble where Gerard Pique somehow failed to turn home from a yard out, but again showed heart and threatened late on, with Taremi heading over when well placed.
Fernando Hierro, installed as Spain manager two days before the World Cup started, knows his side will reach the knockout stage if they beat Morocco on Monday. A draw will suffice if Iran fail to beat Portugal.
Spain overcome another test
Diego Costa has scored three goals in two games at this World Cup
Spain may feel they have faced several noteworthy hurdles already throughout their stay in Russia.
The sacking of coach Julen Lopetegui before the tournament was followed by conceded a last-minute equaliser by Portugal in their opening game. Then came this significant examination.
Spain are accustomed to dominating possession against sides content to soak up pressure, but Iran's deep 4-5-1 set-up in the first half afforded Spain only one shot on target. Costa cut an isolated and frustrated figure, with 12 first-half touches.
Iran set a record of 1,121 minutes without conceding a goal in qualifying and only after the break did Spain begin to find holes in a well-drilled defensive block, with Sergio Busquets forcing a fine save and Pique unable to flick home in the six-yard box.
And the momentum told, with a Ramin Rezaeian clearance hitting Costa and finding the corner of the net. It was Costa's ninth goal in his past nine international starts.
The fact he continued to hassle Iran's defenders on a night when he was so often crowded out of the game is to his credit and, after scoring twice against Portugal, he looks to have made the lone striker role his own.
Spain top Group B courtesy of having collected fewer disciplinary points than Portugal.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Iran
1Beiranvand
23Rezaeian
8Pouraliganji
19Hosseini
3Haji SafiSubstituted forMohammadiat 69'minutes
6Ezatolahi
17Taremi
9EbrahimiBooked at 90mins
11AmiriBooked at 79minsSubstituted forGhoddosat 86'minutes
10AnsarifardSubstituted forJahanbakhshat 74'minutes
20Azmoun
Substitutes
2Torabi
5Mohammadi
7Shojaei
12Mazaheri
13Khanzadeh
14Ghoddos
15Montazeri
16Ghoochannejhad
18Jahanbakhsh
21Dejagah
22Abedzadeh
Spain
1De Gea
2Carvajal
3Piqué
15Ramos
18Alba
5Busquets
11VázquezSubstituted forAsensioat 80'minutes
21Silva
6IniestaSubstituted forKokeat 71'minutes
22Isco
19Diego CostaSubstituted forRodrigoat 89'minutes
Substitutes
4Nacho
7Saúl
8Koke
9Rodrigo
10Thiago Alcántara
12Odriozola
13Arrizabalaga
14Azpilicueta
16Monreal
17Iago Aspas
20Asensio
23Reina
Referee:
Andrés Cunha
Match Stats
Home TeamIranAway TeamSpain
Possession
Home22%
Away78%
Shots
Home7
Away18
Shots on Target
Home0
Away5
Corners
Home2
Away6
Fouls
Home14
Away14
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Iran 0, Spain 1.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Iran 0, Spain 1.
BookingPosted at 90'+2'
Omid Ebrahimi (Iran) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+2'
Rodrigo Moreno (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Omid Ebrahimi (Iran).
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt missed. Sardar Azmoun (Iran) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Ramin Rezaeian with a cross.
SubstitutionPosted at 89'
Substitution, Spain. Rodrigo Moreno replaces Diego Costa.
Posted at 88'
Sergio Busquets (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Saman Ghoddos (Iran).
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Iran. Saman Ghoddos replaces Vahid Amiri.
Posted at 85'
Foul by Diego Costa (Spain).
Posted at 85'
Vahid Amiri (Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 83'
Isco (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 83'
Foul by Omid Ebrahimi (Iran).
Posted at 82'
Attempt missed. Mehdi Taremi (Iran) header from very close range is just a bit too high. Assisted by Vahid Amiri with a cross.
Posted at 81'
Offside, Spain. Diego Costa tries a through ball, but Isco is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Spain. Marco Asensio replaces Lucas Vázquez.
BookingPosted at 79'
Vahid Amiri (Iran) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 79'
Daniel Carvajal (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 79'
Foul by Vahid Amiri (Iran).
Posted at 78'
Attempt blocked. Isco (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 76'
Lucas Vázquez (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Majid Hosseini (Iran).
SubstitutionPosted at 74'
Substitution, Iran. Alireza Jahanbakhsh replaces Karim Ansarifard.
Posted at 74'
Foul by Sergio Busquets (Spain).
Posted at 74'
Vahid Amiri (Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 71'
Substitution, Spain. Koke replaces Andrés Iniesta.
Posted at 70'
Diego Costa (Spain).
Posted at 70'
Alireza Beiranvand (Iran) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Diego Costa (Spain) right footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Gerard Piqué (Spain) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Sergio Ramos (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by David Silva.
SubstitutionPosted at 69'
Substitution, Iran. Milad Mohammadi replaces Ehsan Haji Safi because of an injury.
Posted at 69'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 69'
Delay in match Ehsan Haji Safi (Iran) because of an injury.
Posted at 68'
Corner, Spain. Conceded by Saeid Ezatolahi.
Posted at 67'
Sergio Busquets (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 67'
Foul by Sardar Azmoun (Iran).
Posted at 65'
Offside, Iran. Karim Ansarifard tries a through ball, but Vahid Amiri is caught offside.
Posted at 62'
Offside, Iran. Sardar Azmoun tries a through ball, but Saeid Ezatolahi is caught offside.
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Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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