Doha, Nov 25 (EFE).- Iran scored two stoppage time goals to clinch a dramatic victory over Gareth Bale’s Wales in an emotionally-charged Group B encounter in Qatar on Friday.
Rouzbeh Cheshmi’s screamer from outside the box in the 8th minute of injury time looked to have sealed victory for Iran but Ramin Rezaeian made it certain when he dinked a chip over substitute goalkeeper Danny Ward just minutes later.
Defeat was written across the face of Bales’ Wales as Iran put their 6-2 grubbing at the hands of England behind them to earn a deserved win.
Things turned south for an uninspired Welsh team in the 86th minute when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey charged out of his box and clattered into Mehdi Taremi, who could have been through on goal. The reckless challenges earned Hennessey the first red card of the Qatar World cup following a VAR review.
Ward came on for Aaron Ramsey as Wales were reduced to 10 men for the remainder of the match.
Nine added minutes were all Iran needed to put an end to the game and climb into second place in Group B ahead of England’s date with the United States on Friday evening.
The early Group B kickoff was imbued with emotion from the start.
Departing from their silent protest, Iran’s players could be seen singing – or muttering – the national anthem ahead of the Wales match, although camera footage of fans in the crowd at Al-Rayyan Stadium showed that many were brought to tears.
Before the England match on Monday, Iran’s team did not sing the anthem in order to draw attention to the unrest and protests that have gripped the Islamic Republic in recent months following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini.
Wales now sit bottom of Group B having drawn with the USA and lost to Iran.
Bales’ men face off with their neighbors England on Tuesday.EFE
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