Morocco scored at the wrong side of the pitch to find themselves at the wrong end of Group B at the FIFA World Cup in Russia to gift Iran their second win ever at a World Cup.
Bouhaddouz under no pressure headed the ball calamitously into his keeper's net during injury time to leave the fans moaning at an own goal.
The pointless header leaves Morocco pointless in a group where Spain and Portugal rest knowing an upset from Iran and Morocco is unlikely.
This game was there for the taking yet it produced lots of heat but little light. An 18mins scrabble for goal inside the penalty box saw three Moroccan shots blocked by enthusiastic Iranian bodies.
The African side had long possession spells but brief goal glimpses. Possession was around 80% and petered off 63% in the first half but even with these large numbers the best chance of the half fell to Iran.
On the 42minute, Iran got a one-on-one encounter which the attacker found a way to fluff an easy chance to convert.
Early on, Iran even found a great chance to peeled away from their half to launch a counterattack until a weak pass to find an onrushing attacker close to the Moroccan box found a defender instead.
The teams returned in the second half with momentum on the side of Morocco as well as self-inflicted inefficiencies.
A 79minute low piledriver from Morocco's Ziyach was parried as the game appeared to fit a North African script of incoherent attacks.
Morocco knew that Egypt had early on lost to Uruguay and would find Iranian opposition a chance to put their best foot forward.
They however looked set for a draw after 90minutes and six minutes of extra time.
But like Uruguay, Iran got a late corner poorly struck but nicely glanced inside the net by Azziz Bouhaddouz who stood as the first line of defense close to the near post.
Iran won the game without firing a signle shot on goal in the second half
This is Iran's second win after 13 games in five appearances at the World Cup. Their last win was against the US in June 1998 where a 2-1 score line against their ideological political rival sparked wild celebration in Tehran.
It has taken them another 20 years to win against a different type of political rival - Morocco. Iranian fans could not believe their good luck as a draw would have appeared good enough.
Morocco which in May severed diplomatic ties with Iran, suffer severe embarrassment in a game that was headed for a tie.
Latest Stories
-
Paris 2024: Cadman Yamoah eyes Olympics spot
16 mins -
Bayern Munich end Arsenal’s Champions League dream as Kimmich scores winner
37 mins -
UCL: Lunin heroics help Real Madrid beat Manchester City on penalties
42 mins -
Ghana’s External Debt Rework: Government rushed in announcing interim deal with private creditors – Dr Acheampong
3 hours -
Give true meaning to ‘Yen Ara Asaase Ni’, it’s not just a song – Sam Jonah tells journalists
3 hours -
IMF projects single-digit inflation of 8 percent for Ghana by end of 2025
4 hours -
PNC refutes claims of widespread resignations, condemns establishment of new party, PNP
4 hours -
We’re committed to child online protection initiatives – CSA
4 hours -
Why should politicians take credit for VRA’s work? – Dr Manteaw fumes over power plant relocation funfair
4 hours -
We want anti-LGBTQ+ bill signed – Ghana Baptist Convention to Akufo-Addo
5 hours -
US man, 81, charged with murdering Uber driver after both targeted in scam
6 hours -
Tesla pushes for $56bn pay deal for Elon Musk
6 hours -
Toronto gold heist: Police arrest alleged gun-runner linked to C$20m airport theft
6 hours -
Dubai airport chaos as UAE and Oman reel from deadly storms
6 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions Anwomaso 1 Thermal Power Plant in Kumasi
7 hours