Mehdi Ghayedi replaces Yousefi.
Taremi goes for gold early only to be stopped in his tracks by Surman. In the next minute Wood shoots both high and wide from distance. And then, if only to demonstrate how open proceedings continue to be, Rezaeian forces Surman into another clearance.
Iran 1-1 New Zealand, 49 minutes
Heading into this World Cup, everyone was worried about expansion. And fair enough, it’s easy to think that moving to a 48-team competition would result in blowouts. But if any day was to champion the expanded format, it’s today. I hereby announce Tuesday, June 16 “The Day of The Underdogs”.
First it was Cape Verde holding Spain to a 0-0 draw before Egypt finished 1-1 with Belgium, along with Saudi Arabia drawing 1-1 with Uruguay.
To be fair, neither Iran nor New Zealand are exactly football powerhouses, but their fans don’t make it feel that way – they can both be overachieving underdogs today.
Before we get into the second half, here’s a look at what their group looks like so far.
All square at SoFi Stadium after a first half underscored by end-to-end action and impassioned crowd reaction.
Rezaeian, of opening-goal fame, takes a free kick in the final two minutes of stoppage-time. Nemati is the one who dashes in behind for a free header that buries itself deep in NZ’s net, but he’s barely wheeled away to celebrate before the offside flag goes up. He tried to steal an extra metre or so there. That would’ve been a timely second breakthrough.
Iran 1-1 New Zealand, 45+5 minutes
NZ are awarded a dangerous dead-ball opportunity after Cacace is hauled down. Wood readies himself at the top-left edge of the box and, well, it had promise. The free kick, that is, not Wood’s delivery. Straight to Beiranvand, who gathers with no trouble at all.
There will be six added minutes.
Iran 1-1 New Zealand, 45 minutes
The All Whites know this. Chris Wood, in particular, is demonstrating he is aware of this, and the skipper places himself at the centre of every Kiwi foray. The goal seems to spur the Nottingham Forest forward into immediate action, and he spends the ensuing five minutes or so ensuring he is where he needs to be at all times. Unfortunately for him, he’s got too many men on him when receiving a cross in the area.
Iran 1-1 New Zealand, 41 minutes
The noise inside SoFi is deafening now.
I said there was a New Zealand contingent here, but now all the crowd are in their seats at SoFi, it is clearly a majority Iranian crowd – as you’d expect in LA – and as Iran have built into the game and had a few chances, so too has the noise. But following that Rezaeian equaliser, the place is now rocking.
I have never heard a noise quite like that coming from a small streaming device.
It’s still end to end after drinks, but Iran have subjected their Kiwi counterparts to numerous attacks in quick succession. It’s not quite wave after wave, but let’s say it’s a solid set of four waves. And as every regular beachgoer knows, the biggest wave always come last.
Ghoddos picks out Moghanlou in a goal-mouth scramble and the latter’s shot is blocked. But Rezaeian pounces on the leftovers.
Iran 1-1 New Zealand, 32 minutes
They’ve got speed on their side, and it leaves the All Whites in its wake on the counter. The embodiment of said speed on this occasion is Taremi. He tears straight through the guts and rips a long-range stab that has a diving Crocombe beaten. Lucky for the NZ keeper, his post stands firm.
Time for a drinks break.
Iran 0-1 New Zealand, 25 minutes