 "Ronaldo fans")
Match report: The Group B encouter ended with a heart-breaking moment for Iran as they fail to secure a win against Portugal, who somehow squeezed out a draw and a highly-contested spot into the knock-outs. The Asian side were on the brink of winning the match in the dying moments but an effort by Taremi hit the side net from close range after they leveled the scores from the spot at the 93rd minute. The penalty saw Iran come back into the game but failed to create history as Portugal go into the knock-outs from group B, along with Spain.
Portugal controlled maximum possession but Iran was able to make a series of counter-attacks in the game. Ricardo Quaresma's beautiful first-half strike was canceled out by a penalty awarded by VAR and converted by Karim Ansarifard - but it was not enough for Iran as Portugal progress from Group B to the knockout rounds. The substitute's late goal meant Fernando Santos' men will go into the Gorup of 16 with a second place as Spain tie 2-2 with Morocco. Cristiano Ronaldo & Co will face an upbeat Uruguay in their round of 16 at Sochi on June 30.
Ricardo Quaresma curled in a trademark trivela goal on the stroke of half-time that gave Portugal the much needed lead at the Mordovia Arena, but Karim Ansarifard's late penalty dropped Portugal to second in Group B behind neighbours Spain.
Ronaldo won a second-half spot-kick after a video review but saw his effort saved, with the Real Madrid star unable to add to his four-goal tally at the tournament.
"I think we did very well, we have achieved our goal and now we have to recover and think about the next match," said Quaresma.
"We know the difficulties we'll face, they're a big team with very good players." Fernando Santos will hope Joao Moutinho recovers after the Monaco midfielder was restricted to a late substitute appearance in Saransk because of illness, with Quaresma one of three changes to the team that defeated Morocco 1-0.
Ronaldo, scorer of all four Portugal goals in his country's first two games, forced Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand into an early save after barging his way into the box dangerously. Joao Mario got another chance of putting Portugal in front after a defensive mix-up between Saeid Ezatolahi and Beiranvand, but the Inter Milan midfielder's shot went over the bar.
Iran's first genuine sight of goal came on the 34th minute when Ezatolahi directed a firm header from a free-kick straight into the waiting hands of Rui Patricio.
Quaresma fired Portugal ahead just before the interval when he exchanged passes with Adrien Silva before bending home in style from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot.
Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead five minutes into the second half after he was brought down by Ezatolahi inside the box which reuslted into a VAR-consulted spot-kick but the Portugal captain was denied by Beiranvand who dived to his left to smother Ronaldo's attempt.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz remonstrated angrily with the officials as Saman Ghoddos appeared to be impeded by William Carvalho inside the penalty area. There was no VAR intervention on that occasion, but referee Enrique Caceres trotted over to the pitchside monitor after an altercation between Ronaldo and Morteza Pouraliganji. Ronaldo was caught hitting the Iran defender with a forearm across the face as Pouraliganji fell to the ground in a heap, the Portugal forward ultimately escaped with a yellow card.
Iran earned a stoppage-time penalty, again with the help of VAR, when Sardar Azmoun's header struck the arm of Cedric after the pair contested a deep cross. Substitute Ansarifard buried his effort into the roof of the net to set up a dramatic finish.
Mehdi Taremi could have snatched a stunning winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran fell agonisingly short of a ticket to the knock-outs.
Portugal controlled maximum possession but Iran was able to make a series of counter-attacks in the game. Ricardo Quaresma's beautiful first-half strike was canceled out by a penalty awarded by VAR and converted by Karim Ansarifard - but it was not enough for Iran as Portugal progress from Group B to the knockout rounds. The substitute's late goal meant Fernando Santos' men will go into the Gorup of 16 with a second place as Spain tie 2-2 with Morocco. Cristiano Ronaldo & Co will face an upbeat Uruguay in their round of 16 at Sochi on June 30.
Ricardo Quaresma curled in a trademark trivela goal on the stroke of half-time that gave Portugal the much needed lead at the Mordovia Arena, but Karim Ansarifard's late penalty dropped Portugal to second in Group B behind neighbours Spain.
Ronaldo won a second-half spot-kick after a video review but saw his effort saved, with the Real Madrid star unable to add to his four-goal tally at the tournament.
"I think we did very well, we have achieved our goal and now we have to recover and think about the next match," said Quaresma.
"We know the difficulties we'll face, they're a big team with very good players." Fernando Santos will hope Joao Moutinho recovers after the Monaco midfielder was restricted to a late substitute appearance in Saransk because of illness, with Quaresma one of three changes to the team that defeated Morocco 1-0.
Ronaldo, scorer of all four Portugal goals in his country's first two games, forced Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand into an early save after barging his way into the box dangerously. Joao Mario got another chance of putting Portugal in front after a defensive mix-up between Saeid Ezatolahi and Beiranvand, but the Inter Milan midfielder's shot went over the bar.
Iran's first genuine sight of goal came on the 34th minute when Ezatolahi directed a firm header from a free-kick straight into the waiting hands of Rui Patricio.
Quaresma fired Portugal ahead just before the interval when he exchanged passes with Adrien Silva before bending home in style from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot.
Ronaldo had the chance to double the lead five minutes into the second half after he was brought down by Ezatolahi inside the box which reuslted into a VAR-consulted spot-kick but the Portugal captain was denied by Beiranvand who dived to his left to smother Ronaldo's attempt.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz remonstrated angrily with the officials as Saman Ghoddos appeared to be impeded by William Carvalho inside the penalty area. There was no VAR intervention on that occasion, but referee Enrique Caceres trotted over to the pitchside monitor after an altercation between Ronaldo and Morteza Pouraliganji. Ronaldo was caught hitting the Iran defender with a forearm across the face as Pouraliganji fell to the ground in a heap, the Portugal forward ultimately escaped with a yellow card.
Iran earned a stoppage-time penalty, again with the help of VAR, when Sardar Azmoun's header struck the arm of Cedric after the pair contested a deep cross. Substitute Ansarifard buried his effort into the roof of the net to set up a dramatic finish.
Mehdi Taremi could have snatched a stunning winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran fell agonisingly short of a ticket to the knock-outs.
