The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group B Wales v Iran clash that sees Wales looking to continue their excellent second half v USA in game one, and Iran just hopeful not to get a team that was as hot as the outside temperature.
With so many games and so little time, our Group B Wales v Iran Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group B Wales v Iran Match Centre.
KICKOFF – FRIDAY 25TH NOV – 13:00 (QATAR) 10:00 (UK) 21:00 (AEDT)
Group B Wales v Iran Match Review
Iran left it very late to collect the win over Wales in Group B, where the late sending off of goal keeper Wayne Hennessy was a key moment.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
2’ Min First shot of the match goes to NEco Williams from Wales which soars over the crossbar without troubling the keeper. We have ignored Iran’s first attempt which was so wide it nearly went out over the sideline.
5’ Min Iran’s turn to pressure the Wales defence with a few crosses and mediocre shots on goal, but the score remains 0-0 despite both sides looking lively.
11 ‘ Min Wales go close to opening the scoring but a great reaction save from near point blank range by the Iran keeper saved the day. The play was set up by Connor Roberts’ perfect cross who found Kieffer Moore and the Wales striker hit it quick but right at the Iran keeper. Moore also got an accidental kick to the head for his troubles too.
15’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL TO IRAN
Ali Gholizadeh is the Iran player to put the ball in the back of the net, and after a sharp 1-2 with his fellow forward, but sadly that last pass to Ali Gholizadeh has cost them a goal as it shows he was offside.
WALES 0 IRAN 0
17’ Min Gareth Bale is fouled just outside the box and goes to the ground clutching his head. Nothing comes out of either and the score remains 0-0.
25’ Min It’s getting a bit feisty out there with Iran and Wales players knocking each over in some tackles. Perhaps Iran have run out of magic water spray but Sardar Azmoun is on the ground for a while and then off the pitch. Or maybe they do as Sardar Azmoun is back on within a minute.
31’ Min Wales are presented with a free kick in a good enough position to challenge for goal. Following on from the above, the free kick was given for Ethan Ampadu being barged over. How about the free kick? Na, no score.
42’ Min Corner for Wales, can they score before half time? Na.
45’ Min +2 Woeful tackle from Joe Rodon earns Iran a free kick and Rodon a yellow card. He’s probably lucky, as that tackle could see you sent off in another world with another ref. Oh, the free kick didn’t score.
HALF TIME – WALES 0 IRAN 0
51′ Min My word, how did Iran not score. They are denied three times in one attack. First is the initial break down field by Sardar Azmoun where he shoots past the Wales keeper to the right and hits the post with the keeper beaten. Then the rebound falls to Ali Gholizadeh who curls a shots past the keeps to the left and the ball slams into the left post. The ball then rebounds to Sardar Azmoun whose header is saved by the Wales keeper.
65′ Min It’s reasonably even between the team still. Iran have had the best chances this half but Wales arguably the slightly more dominant team in terms of territory and possession.
72′ Min It’s corner time for Iran with back to back attacks on Wales. Wales keeper Wayne Hennessey is keeping them in the game for now with another fine save in that attacking wave.
80′ Min This game is heading towards a draw, and needs a Gareth Bale type player to do something Gareth Bale type like.
84′ Min Big moment here. Iran make a break from deep inside their own half and Mehdi Taremi is steaming towards goal when Wales keeper Wayne Hennssey appears out of nowhere and slams into the Iranian forward, and almost looks like he gives Mehdi Taremi a kick in the chest for good measure. The referee initially gives a yellow card and a free kick. But upon a check with VAR he upgrade the colour of the card and the first sending off for the World Cup of 2022 has happened. At least Wales had a substitution left so they could put on a keeper for a forward. Although we do prefer it when an outfield player has to go in goal.
SENT OFF – Wayne Hennessey
90′ Min 9 minutes of added time for Wales to hang on for a draw. Pretty sure we can rule out a win now. And a point would be deserving to a degree.
90′ Min + 5 Both teams throwing absolutely everything into these finals minutes, big tackles, yellow cards and both teams giving it plenty. Will one side break?
90′ Min + 7 GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR IRAN
And what a winner it is. After Iran were nibbling around the penalty area they take a half hearted shot which is then blocked by the Wales defence but rebounds back to the Iran attack, then up steps Rouzbeh Cheshmi who smashes the ball from the top of the “D” to the right of the Wales defence and keeper and it powers past into the net for the winning goal.
WALES 0 IRAN 1
90′ Min + 11 GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR IRAN
For a truckload of extra salt Iran put on a second goal in injury time. Fresh from a Wales attack as they searched for an equaliser, Iran broke away and had a four on two advantage, and Ramin Rezaeian was the lucky player to get the ball on the edge of the penalty area, and he jinked then split the keeper and cover defender perfectly to score a bonus second goal. Which was the final kick of the match, and Iran had taken a sensational win that keeps their knockout stage chances alive.
WALES 0 IRAN 2
Final Score
WALES 0
IRAN 2
Rouzbeh Cheshmi 90′ + 7 Ramin Rezaeian 90′ + 11
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
Sardar Azmoun
Points of Interest
- Although some of the tackles were a bit nasty, it was good to see two teams really giving it a go. Especially after a run of 0-0 games with next to no passion this week.
Group B Wales v Iran Match Stats
Group B Wales v Iran Starting Teams
WALES (3-5-2)
1 Hennessey
5 Mepham
6 Rodon
4 Davies
14 Roberts
10 Ramsey
15 Ampadu
8 Wilson
3 N Williams
11 Bale
13 Moore
TEAM (4-4-1-1)
24 Hosseini
23 Rezaeian
19 Hosseini
8 Pouraliganji
5 Mohammadi
17 Gholizadeh
6 Ezatolahi
21 Noorollahi
3 Hajisafi
9 Taremi
20 Azmoun
Group B Wales v Iran Match Preview
Why should you care?
A win for Wales in this game then sets up a huge clash v England in the final games of Group B. If England fail to beat the USA it could be a straight H2H v England to top the group.
Who should you care about?
Gareth Bale is a factor in every Wales game, and he was just that when they needed him against the USA, scoring the equalising penalty.
Kieffer Moore was a large part of the turnaround in the second half for Wales, and is probably deserving of a starting place for this match.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Wales’ draw with USA means they have drawn all four group stage games at their two visits to a World Cup.
Iran are yet to beat an European side at a World Cup – their record is D2 L6.
Who will win?
Wales 2 Iran 0
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
Group B Wales v Iran Match Review
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute except one that has only the minutes that matter.
Stay tuned after the match.
Group B Wales v Iran Match Stats
Coming after the match.
