Belgium were held to a goalless draw by Iran despite dominating possession, with the star-studded but ageing side fortunate to escape with a point in a tense Group G encounter in Los Angeles.
The Red Devils, led by Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku, controlled large spells of the match but struggled to convert possession into clear chances, while a disciplined Iranian side created the better opportunities and came close to securing all three points.
Iran thought they had taken the lead in the first half when Mehdi Taremi finished off a cleverly worked free-kick routine, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside. Belgium’s problems deepened after the break when Nathan Ngoy was sent off for bringing down Taremi following a misplaced back pass.
The result means all three games so far in Group G have ended in draws. Stuck on two points, Belgium at least have the comfort of playing the tournament’s lowest-ranked team, New Zealand, in their final group game.
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Iran will also need at least a point against Egypt next Friday. Having been frustrated by visa issues as they travel from their base camp in Mexico to games in the US, Team Melli will hope to focus on the football as travel restrictions are reportedly eased for their crucial trip to Seattle.
For the second Iran game running, protesters from Los Angeles’ large Persian exile community gathered at the stadium to chant against the country’s hard-line regime.
Inside the stadium, Iran’s anthem again drew a chorus of boos and whistles — a reception at odds with the response to the players themselves, who were loudly cheered.
Having switched to a back five, Iran sat deep in the first half, allowing Belgium to dominate possession and to play hundreds of passes around their penalty area without creating any clear-cut opportunities.
Target man Lukaku, back in the starting lineup after making an impact from the bench in Belgium’s 1-1 draw with Egpyt, managed a solitary headed effort in the 36th minute, which sailed over the bar.
Iran had the first half’s two best chances, entirely against the run of play. Hossein Kanani’s low shot after a long throw was well saved by an outstretched Thibaut Courtois.
And Iran’s star striker Taremi had the ball in the net midway through the half after a cleverly worked free kick, but it was ruled offside.
The former Inter Milan man span away from Belgium’s wall, swivelled and buried the ball, before VAR overruled the effort, to the dismay of a vocally pro-Iran crowd.
After the break, Belgium continued to huff and puff while Taremi again nearly scored at the other end. Courtois did well to save after Kanani had flicked on a long throw to the Iran forward.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia made a triple substitution around the hour mark and his side immediately came close, Maxim De Cuyper’s point-blank effort from De Bruyne’s cut-back well saved.
Substitute Hans Vanaken blasted a shot from a rebound well over the bar moments later, as the Red Devils finally began to knock on Iran’s door in earnest.
But disaster struck for Belgium as Ngoy was sent off. The centre-back had badly under hit a pass back to Courtois, and raised his arm into Taremi as the striker raced through on goal.
The game settled into a nervous, scrappy stalemate, though De Cuyper again came close with a low effort from just outside the box.
