Iran battle back twice to earn point against New Zealand in thriller

[p]Though hugely unfancied – as they were back in 2010 – and the lowest-ranked side in this WC edition, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/new-zealand/rLctHkpU/"]New Zealand[/a] got off to a stunning start by taking the lead inside seven minutes. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wood-chris/Cp7L7Gro/"]Chris Wood[/a] brilliantly controlled a long ball up the pitch, laying off to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/singh-sarpreet/6N9LXYZH/"]Sarpreet Singh[/a], who played in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/just-elijah/CxtyLmOd/"]Elijah Just[/a].[/p][p]Following a quick one-two again with Wood, the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/motherwell/YuW7ZfMM/"]Motherwell[/a] forward flicked the ball up before volleying home an unstoppable strike from just inside the box, sending the All-Whites and their fans into delirious raptures. [/p][p]Looking to spearhead an equaliser, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taremi-mehdi/E9UW7Gv8/"]Mehdi Taremi[/a] was denied by the woodwork midway through the first half after driving at the All Whites defence with a run from the half-way line, before his strike just outside the 18-yard box cannoned back off the right post.[/p][p]But Iran finally equalised on 32’, when Ramin Rezaeian poked home the loose ball in the box after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shahriar-moghanlou/U3mNRo2j/"]Shahriyar Moghanlou[/a]’s initial strike was blocked, as New Zealand failed to keep a clean sheet in six of their last seven WC games.[/p][p]Iran then thought the comeback was complete in first-half stoppage time when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nemati-ali/4fscKFpP/"]Ali Nemati[/a] nodded in following a free-kick into the box, but his joy was short-lived as the offside flag was quickly raised, closing out an entertaining opening 45 minutes.[/p][image alt="Iran - New Zealand match momentum" id="1e89d972-3b0b-4a6a-89b2-1fd04e20c9f3" credit-line="Opta by StatsPerform" guid="7ec44fee-8e49-4eea-b376-baad08d81fc9" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Picking up where they left off before the break, Iran continued to threaten with two early efforts in the second half. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/heydari-mehdi-ghayedi/SpNsi1UI/"]Mehdi Ghayedi[/a], introduced ahead of the restart, had an effort blocked on the edge of the box before Shahriyar Moghanlou sent a shot high and wide.[/p][p]However, in similar circumstances to the first half, New Zealand soaked up the early pressure and hit their opponents with a surprise foray forward, restoring their lead with 54’ on the clock. Again linking up with Wood, this time Just drove towards the Iranian 18-yard-box, played another one-two with the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/nottingham/UsushcZr/"]Nottingham Forest[/a] before firing past [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beiranvand-alireza/pUYZ8JQd/"]Alireza Beiranvand[/a][/p][p]Iran’s last eight WC goals prior to today had all been scored after the break, and Amir Ghalenoei’s men continued the theme of second-half goals, restoring parity once again 10 minutes later. The All Whites defence was caught sleeping as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mohebi-mohammad/ttQWrPvN/"]Mohammad Mohebi[/a] found himself unmarked in the box to head home from Rezaeian’s cross. [/p][p]The two nations could not be split in a blockbuster encounter in Los Angeles, with New Zealand left feeling frustrated after twice dropping their lead and remain without a WC victory in seven attempts (D4, L3) as they face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a] next.[/p][p]Iran, meanwhile, showed fight to twice come from behind but face a stern test against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a] next, as they aim to make it out of the group stage for the first time in their seventh WC finals appearance.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rezaeian-ramin/0GXvoGYk/"]Ramin Rezaeian[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/iran-xrRx85iA/new-zealand-rLctHkpU/summary/stats/?mid=4tBriEQH"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]