Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
World Cup result: Morocco 0-1 Iran; Aziz Bouhaddouz own goal gifts Iran famous win
AZIZ BOUHADDOUZ headed an own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Iran a stunning 1-0 victory over Morocco. See how the World Cup action unfolded with Express Sport.
Aziz Bouhaddouz headed an own goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time to give Iran a stunning 1-0 victory over Morocco in the first Group B game of the World Cup.
The rank outsiders in a group also containing Spain and Portugal were set for a 0-0 draw of little use to either until Ehsan Hajsafi curled in a free kick from the left wing which Bouhaddouz tried to intercept at the near-post but instead steered it into the goal.
It was heart-breaking for Morocco, making their first finals appearance for 20 years, but after starting brightly they will rue their cautious second-half display.
Morocco keeper Munir Mohamedi had earlier made a smart double save to deny Sardar Azmoun's sharp shot and Alireza Jahanbakhsh's looping follow-up while Iran keeper Alireza Beiranvand also had to stay alert when he went full-length to touch away Hakim Ziyech's low volley.
MOROCCO 0-1 IRAN - BOUHADDOUZ (94)
Morocco XI: Mohamedi, Hakimi, Benatia, Saiss, Boussoufa, Ziyech, El Ahmadi, Harit, Nordin Amrabat, El Kaabi, Belhanda.
Iran XI: Beiranvand, Rezaeian, Cheshmi, Pouraliganji, Ansarifard, Ebrahimi, Hajsafi, Shojaei, Jahanbakhsh, Azmoun, Amiri.