With a goal from its star Christian Pulisic, the United States achieved a harrowing 1-0 victory against Iran on Tuesday in a high-tension duel that sealed their qualification to the round of 16 of the Qatar-2022 World Cup.
pulisic scored in the 38th minute the goal of an essential victory for USAwhich ended in second place in group B and meet with Netherlands in the round of 16 next Saturday.
England (7 points), who beat 3-0 Welshfinished in the first position of the group, followed by USA (5), Iran (3) and Wales (1).
The goal of the Chelsea striker, who suffered a strong shock in that action for which he was replaced, he resolved a match involved in a strong political charge but what developed without incidents between the footballerswho greeted each other in a friendly way before the initial whistle.
TO EIGHTH! ?️??
— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) November 29, 2022
The United States only needed victory to advance while Iran could suffice with a draw to qualify for their first round of 16.
In addition to its football significance, the match was surrounded by tension due to the conflicting history between the two countries, which broke off diplomatic relations after the Islamic Revolution in Iran 1979, and by the current protests against the Tehran regime motivated by the death of a young woman in police custody.
For the North American team, absent in Russia-2018the game was also of enormous importance, determined to provide an injection of enthusiasm to his country for the World Cup that he will co-organize in 2026.
– Dramatic ending –
The American advances achieved results in the 38th minute with a long serve by McKennie as Sergiño Dest broke in on the right, who crossed with a header upon arrival through the center of Pulisic, who he managed to finish off before colliding hard with the goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
The forward, who wants to vindicate himself in Qatar after difficult months at Chelsea, returned to the field after scoring his first World Cup goal but was substituted at half-time.
⚽️ This is how Group B of the World Cup ended #Qatar2022. England and the United States progressed to the next round. Iran and Wales back home.#VersusRadio @Universe970py pic.twitter.com/71PVBBZs1T
—Versus (@SomosVersusPY) November 29, 2022
Back from the locker room, coach Carlos Queiroz ordered Iran to advance lines and it didn’t take long for them to put the North American center back pair, who had never played together, in trouble.
Holding on to the result it sought, the United States made defensive changes to dig in but could not avoid two last big scares in discount with a header from Morteza Pouraliganji that grazed the post and a penalty claimed by Mehdi Taremi.
But the American team survived the tachycardic final and will return to the round of 16 at the hands of the most promising generation in its history.
