A Karim Ansarid penalty equalizer to a superb Quaresma goal left Iran heartbroken and out of the tournament as Portugal set a round of 16 clash with Uruguay.

In a game full of drama, Tarimi, four minutes into added time wasted the greatest opportunity of a lifetime to be a hero of his nation when he blew a chance which would have given them a place in the last 16.

His compatriot had done what Ronaldo failed to do by converting a penalty to draw level a minute earlier and all he needed to do was to bury a great chance with Patricio in post for the Portuguese. But his miss was the greatest gift for a Portuguese side which commanded the game for the most part of the encounter. 

It was a nail-biting final six minutes of added time, which for the Portuguese, would appear to be the longest ever added time in football and when the referee blew his whistle for the end of the game, the men in white sank to the floor in tears, knowing they came close to making history but were yet too far.

For a Group B that had Spain and Portugal as well as Morocco, it would be audacious bet on Iran to qualify out of the group but when they beat Morocco and lost narrowly to Spain, they had their destiny in their own hands.

They needed a victory against Portugal and forget about whatever happens in the other group game. It looked a tall order but Carlos Queiroz side fancied their chances and played with composure and confidence in the opening exchanges.

It was Ronaldo who had his left shot saved early in the game but it was warning enough for the Iranian side who knew what they up against, a goal machine who doesn’t need a yard to score. An inch of space was just enough.

With a fondness of possession, the Portuguese dictated the pace but never really threatened the Iranian goal.

It was the oil-rich Iranian side which came close to scoring but the glancing header from Ezatolahi was well dealt with by Patricio in the 33rd minute.

It looked like the game was sliding into a barren recess until the Quaresma moment came. The former Chelsea player capped a defense splitting build up with a shot taken with the outside of his foot to open Portugal’s account in 41 minutes.

Back from recess, the Iranians had their job cut out for them, albeit a difficult one, but they were in no hurry at all until a penalty was awarded to Ronaldo.

The referee needed the assistance of the VAR to give the Real Madrid man a penalty after he was obstructed in the vital area. But Ronaldo threw away an opportunity to put the game beyond the reach of the Iranian side.

That penalty miss appeared to be the single motivation Iran needed and they played with it.

The Portugal defence of Pepe and Fonte had to work overtime to keep the desperate Iranian side quiet on the night.

Few times they came close to scoring, many times they lunged at the referee demanding a decision in their favour.

The clock was ticking and inching to a Portugal victory even after six minutes of added time was added.

But the story changed then on. The anger and emotional outburst at the referee by the Iranian side paid off. Ronaldo was nearly sent off when a VAR decision again showed he had been vicious in shoving away a deliberate decision by an Iranian player to block him. He got a yellow for his troubles. 

The same VAR which gave Ronaldo a penalty, also gifted Iran a penalty three minutes into added time after a header went off the hand of the Portuguese defender.

Karim Ansarid stepped up and drew level with a powerful penalty kick. All Portugal had to do was to hold on for at least two minutes but that was a difficult thing to do.

In a brief moment of lack of concentration, the Iranian side was presented with a great opportunity to score and qualify but with Patricio in post to beat, Tarimi chose the side of the net even though the angle was a little acute.

Portugal heaved a huge sigh of relief as Iran players had their palms on their heads. 1-1 it ended but Portugal made it through to meet winners of group A- Uruguay.

 

 

 

 

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