Egypt survive late scare to hold onto draw as Iran await knockout round fate

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/egypt/bejDn7NN/"]Egypt[/a]’s place in the Round of 32 was confirmed before kick-off, although they were still highly motivated by the chance to finish top of Group G.[/p][p]That determination was clear to see as they flew out of the block to establish a fifth-minute lead through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/saber-mahmoud/0jjhyAGn/"]Mahmoud Saber[/a], [b]whose first-time shot squeezed through [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/beiranvand-alireza/pUYZ8JQd/"]Alireza Beiranvand[/a]’s legs and proved too powerful for the defender on the line[/b]. [/p][p]Knowing that they needed to avoid defeat to have any hope of progressing, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iran/xrRx85iA/"]Iran[/a] were presented with a golden chance to level when the complacent [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/salah-mohamed/08FBycgB/"]Mohamed Abdelmoneim[/a] kicked [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taremi-mehdi/E9UW7Gv8/"]Mehdi Taremi[/a] in his attempt to clear the ball from danger.[/p][image alt="Momentum" id="09f48978-a5b1-4891-8d8d-88d67d48b05e" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="dbcd76f0-d988-464c-88a7-9dd6c3a0f02a" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]While Abdelmoneim picked up a game-ending injury in the process, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/oufa-shobeir/0vgRIJk9/"]Mostafa Shobeir[/a] at least managed to bail out his teammate, diving low to his left to push away Taremi’s nervy-looking spot-kick.[/p][p]Unfortunately for Shobeir, [b]he could not stop [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rezaeian-ramin/0GXvoGYk/"]Ramin Rezaeian[/a] from netting a 15th-minute equaliser despite making a smart stop from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mohammadi-milad/zozoqcY5/"]Milad Mohammadi[/a]'s initial effort.[/b] Shobeir thought he had sent Rezaeian wide enough from his goal, but the Iranian wing-back had other ideas, turning the ball home from the narrowest of angles to net his second goal of the tournament.[/p][p]After going into the break on level terms, Egypt were dealt a setback in their quest for victory when star man Mohamed Salah was withdrawn just before the hour mark with an apparent injury.[/p][p] [/p][image alt="Match Stats" id="a39c3958-6a59-4efe-97fd-171237a03bf0" credit-line="Opta by Stats Perform" guid="a6d6ceee-c9fe-43d6-bcb0-b52e26c12950" original-width="1080" original-height="1080" /][p]Egypt lacked inspiration in Salah’s absence and were fortunate not to lose the game at the death when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/khalilzadeh-shoja/z90Lzavq/"]Shoja Khalilzadeh[/a] swept the ball in after a deep free-kick wreaked havoc in the box.[/p][p]However, an offside call curtailed Iranian celebrations before the woodwork thwarted [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ezatolahi-saeid/OrApCj4j/"]Saeid Ezatolahi[/a] as the Pharaohs scraped over the line to clinch second spot. [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/amiri-nadiem/b3H5VR8I/"]Amir Ghalenoei[/a]’s side now face a nervous wait to discover whether they can look forward to a first WC knockout round appearance, while Egypt look forward to a Round of 32 clash with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/australia/xSrf6qMM/"]Australia[/a].[/p][p][b]Flashscore of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hany-mohamed/nyIZP4tk/"]Mohamed Hany[/a] (Egypt)[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/egypt-bejDn7NN/iran-xrRx85iA/summary/stats/?mid=OjRH5DuB"]Catch up on the match stats with Flashscore.[/a][/b][/p]