Morocco 0-1 Iran: Carlos Queiroz's side in first World Cup win for 20 years

Football

Sat June 16, 2018 · 7y ago

Iran left it late as they snatched a 1-0 victory over Morocco in their Group B opener at the 2018 World Cup in Saint Petersburg.

It looked as though neither side would make the most of the chance to start with a victory, only for Aziz Bouhaddouz to head past his own goalkeeper at the near-post in the dying stages to hand Iran a 1-0 win.

It is just their second ever World Cup win and came two decades after a 2-1 success against the United States at France 98.

Morocco will rue their chances after being the better side for the majority of the game, dictating an electric pace to the opening stages and looking to release Ayoub El Kaabi over the top whenever possible, leaving Herve Renard's side as great outsiders to qualify ahead of Spain and Portugal.

Iran's ideal start leaves them priced at 10/3 with Sky Bet to qualify for the knockout stages, with Morocco 18/1. A straight forecast of Spain winners, Portugal runners up, Iran third and Morocco bottom is available at 6/5 - click here for more Group B odds with the online bookmaker.

VIDEO: Aziz Bouhaddouz's own goal

OWN GOAL! The free-kick is delivered in out wide and Morocco substitute Bouhaddouz's desperate attempt to keep the ball out ends up in his own net pic.twitter.com/IvBJ0ez7uZ
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 15, 2018

Opta match facts

Morocco have never won their opening match at a World Cup tournament (D2 L3), also failing to win in 1970, 1986, 1994 and 1998.
Iran won just their second match at the World Cup (D3 L8), with this their first since beating USA in June 1998.
Iran did not attempt a single shot in the second half and were the first team since 1966 to score a goal in a half of World Cup football without attempting a shot.
Iran kept only their second World Cup clean sheet – their other came in a goalless draw with Nigeria in June 2014.
Carlos Queiroz has never lost against an African nation in the World Cup (W1 D2), keeping three clean sheets in those matches.