There was simply no debate over the moment of the match and it is one that Iran will cherish, even more so if they are to progress to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time. Every angle of Alireza Beiranvand’s preposterous save to prevent Belgium taking the lead approaching the hour adds to the miraculous nature of it all. Perhaps the most ludicrous element was that Beiranvand had seesawed to his left in an attempt to intercept Kevin De Bruyne’s rolled cross into the six-yard box and yet, scrambling on the turf, stuck out a left glove to shut the door in the face of Maxim De Cuyper. Belgium finished with 10 men after Nathan Ngoy was sent off for hauling down Mehdi Taremi.
If Iran advance to the last 32, they will surely reflect on Beiranvand’s divine intervention. De Bruyne glittered in moments here, none more so than graciously bringing Leandro Trossard’s lifted pass down on the byline. Beiranvand made it his mission to reach De Bruyne’s pass before Romelu Lukaku, who by starting here became the third-most capped Belgium player. In the end Ali Nemati stopped the cross, legs splayed as Beiranvand thwarted De Cuyper. Iran believes. Meanwhile Belgium, who exited at the group stage four years ago, are in a spot of bother.
The last time Iran were at this stadium, after their Group G opener against New Zealand, they were not so much frogmarched off the premises but advised they were not welcome to stick around, informed they were unable to stay overnight and would have to fly back to their base in Tijuana, Mexico.
Gianni Infantino visited their dressing room in an attempt to assuage their concerns, though amid the head coach Amir Ghalenoei’s plea for more help Fifa’s president ended up riffing that, if required, he could fill in up front against Belgium, who were blunt in the box themselves. Iran returned to Los Angeles less than 24 hours before kick-off here after being denied permission to arrive sooner, another example, they say, of the treatment that makes them feel the most oppressed team at the tournament.
Ghalenoei suggested Iran had trained half as much as he hoped owing to their delayed arrival in Tijuana, their hastily-arranged base after 11 officials were denied entry to the US, and the burden of commuting to and from LA from Mexico for their opening to matches.
If they did not have enough to contend with, then 40 minutes before kick-off the mudslinging between Iran and co-hosts USA continued, with Iran’s football federation (FFIRI) accusing the US secretary of homeland security, Markwayne Mullin, of spreading fake news about a member of the FFIRI being prevented from boarding their plane to LA because of “direct ties” to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The FFIRI said “fabricated statements have been made with the aim of damaging the reputation of Iranian football and disrupting the national team’s participation” in the World Cup.
Belgium had problems of their own, with the Manchester City winger Jérémy Doku absent and understood to be on antibiotics after his illness worsened since their opening draw with Egypt in Seattle. Rudi Garcia rejigged things by making four changes, chiefly Lukaku replacing Charles De Ketelaere in attack. Lukaku’s introduction off the bench last time out triggered Belgium’s equaliser, spooking Mohamed Hany into scoring an own goal and inside two and a half minutes here Lukaku lunged to meet De Bruyne’s teasing cross, but this time he was booked for inadvertently denting Beiranvand with the studs of his left boot.
Lukaku’s inclusion from the start was a surprise in itself given he had played just 40 minutes for Napoli last season owing to hamstring injuries, his last start for club or country coming in Belgium’s rollercoaster 4-3 win over Wales more than 12 months ago. Lukaku’s mere presence kept Iran’s centre-backs on their toes but Beiranvand’s first save was to deny De Bruyne and then, from the rebound, the Brighton defender De Cuyper, another promoted to the starting XI.
Thibaut Courtois was alert to thwart a bouncing effort by Hossein Kanaanizadegan and midway through the half Taremi saw a precise finish, reminiscent of Wout Weghorst’s strike against Argentina four years ago, after a smart free-kick routine initiated by Ehsan Hajsafi disallowed for offside. The ball beat Courtois in slow-motion but a video assistant referee review flagged Taremi offside.
Courtois made an instinctive save to deny a stinging effort by Taremi after an Iran long throw but the best stop was undeniably at the other end approaching the hour. Beiranvand somehow pawed De Cuyper’s shot from inside the six-yard box after Nemati initially halted De Bruyne’s cross after a touch of brilliance on the byline. The huge wraparound screen then showed the raw numbers: 15 shots to four in Belgium’s favour. But a few minutes later it was Iran with a numerical advantage when the Lille defender Ngoy wiped out Taremi trying to make amends for a poor pass.
Belgium were rattled, even the most tidy players now unkempt. De Bruyne gave the ball away deep inside his own half, presenting Saeid Ezatolahi with the chance to send a full-throttle shot at Courtois. Beiranvand, though, wasn’t finished and with stoppage time looming he was alert to another De Cuyper effort.