Belgium’s Nathan Ngoy was sent off for the denial of a goal-scoring opportunity. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(Anadolu via Getty Images)
Iran has a real chance of making the World Cup Round of 32 after a 0-0 draw with 10-man Belgium on Sunday in Los Angeles.
Belgian fullback Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minute for a denial of a goal-scoring opportunity when he fouled Iran forward Mehdi Tahremi. From there, Belgium made it clear that it was playing for the tie and took off forward Romelu Lukaku in favor of more defensive reinforcements.
The plan worked, as an Iran team that had been absorbing pressure for most of the game was suddenly put in the role of aggressor. And while Iran controlled the ball for most of the game following Ngoy’s absence, it couldn’t find the breakthrough goal.
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Both teams are now tied on two points after Iran drew 2-2 with New Zealand to open its World Cup campaign and Belgium tied Egypt.
Iran has never made it out of the group stage in any of its previous six trips to the World Cup. But depending on how Sunday night’s game between New Zealand and Egypt goes, a tie against the Kiwis could be enough to get out of the group.
Belgium disappoints
As Iran can be optimistic about its chances of advancing, Belgium has been one of the biggest World Cup disappointments so far. The Belgians needed an own goal to get a draw with Egypt and were woeful in the final third even with all 11 players on the field.
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Belgium spent most of the first half on Iran’s side of the field but the final touch was either lacking or simply nonexistent. In the second half, this sequence that resulted in an exceptional save from Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand summed up Belgium’s day perfectly.
Belgium played Sunday’s game without Manchester City forward Jeremy Doku due to illness. But even without Doku, there was still plenty of talent on the field with Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne, Leandro Trossard and captain Youri Tielemans. Yet the Red Devils simply didn’t look sharp.
And they haven’t for a while at the World Cup. You have to go all the way back to the first group stage game of the 2022 tournament to find the last time that a Belgian player has scored.
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Heck, you could make the case that Iran ultimately ended up with better scoring chances despite having so little of the ball while Belgium was at full strength. Tahremi had a goal off a free kick called back for offsides in the first half and also forced a great save from Thibaut Courtois, who was also needed for a reactive save on a shot by Hossein Kanani in the box in the first half too.
