Next Day's Games

Final

Germany 1-0 (ET) Argentina (Gotze 113')

Saturday, June 21, 2014

Game 27 Recap: Argentina 1-0 Iran

ARGENTINA 1-0 IRAN

On the verge of possibly their greatest result in soccer history, Iran had a tie against Argentina snatched away at the close by the left foot of Lionel Messi.

A stellar defensive performance throughout that had Argentina shaking their heads and throwing their hands in the air for much of the game, Iran left the best player in the world a fraction too much room outside their penalty area and Messi made them pay.

As expected, this was a game dominated in possession by Argentina (77%) as Iran often put all players behind the ball in a furious effort to defend their own penalty area from the dangerous Argentine strikers.

First real chance for Argentina came in the 22nd minute. One of the rare forays they were able to make through Iran's lines, Sergio Aguero's shot curled around Gonzalo Higuain but was saved and knocked away by a leaping Alireza Haghighi in goal. Haghighi saw his goal threatened further off of set pieces in the first half but multiple uncontested headers shot high and wide of his goal leading to a 0-0 halftime line.

Focused on defending, it was Iran that was the closer to scoring as the second half progressed. Pejman Montazeri sent a long cross in to Reza Ghoochannejhad who had a free header on goal but sent the chance directly at Sergio Romero who turned it away. Minutes later, Ashkan Dejagah found the end of yet another Montazeri cross but Romero was able to jump and get enough of a hand on the ball to tip it over the bar.

Argentina seemed to deflate as the half went on, clearly frustrated at their inability to get shots on goal as well as another Iran rush that nearly led to a Ghoochannejhad goal. But when they needed him the most, their captain stepped up in a big way.

1-on-1 with Ghoochannejhad outside the Iran penalty area, Messi made a slick move to his left and freed up just enough room to send a curling left-foot shot at the far post. The ball flew past the diving Haghighi and bulged the net to give Argentina the win and hand a crushing loss to an Iran team that had done enough to earn a tie.

Goals

Argentina: Lionel Messi (90+1')
Iran: N/A

Discipline

Argentina: N/A
Iran: Javad Nekounam (Yellow 53'), Masoud Shojaei (Yellow 72')

Man of the Match

Lionel Messi named Man of the Match and hard to argue when the best player in the world scores the winner in injury time. I felt Messi was a bit disconnected from this game. Started on the wing and didn't get much going. Switched with Higuain eventually and was in the centre but had even less room to operate in the Iran defence. Sergio Romero made a few key saves when called upon and was probably Argentina's most important player in this game.

Key Moment

In injury time and with Argentina staring a devastating result in the face, Lionel Messi freed up some room towards the middle of the field and is curling shot got outside Reza Ghoochannejhad defending and inside the far post to give Argentina the late victory. Honourable mention to Sergio Romero for a great leaping save on Ashkan Dejagah in the 67th minute to prevent Iran from taking a 1-0 lead.

What we learned from Argentina

Torn between dismay at how poor their finishing was and reminding myself they were faced with an entire team parked in front of their goal. 2 biggest concerns: Still far too fancy in front of goal. Wasted a lot of shooting chances looking for the perfect play which absolutely isn't going to come with so many defenders back. And can anyone time a header on this squad? Time after time, Argentina sent balls in on set pieces only to see uncontested headers wasted.

What we learned from Iran

We knew their defence was good but there was a quesiton of how they would hold up against the pressure of a team like Argentina. It took a full-out defensive effort but they more then held their own and stifled Argentina for 90 minutes until Messi unleashed his strike. Will have to win their last game and can't park the bus like they did today but they'll be encouraged by the play of Dejagah and Ghoochannejhad again up front.

Going Forward 

Argentina's victory at the end puts them through to the knockout round and they've almost clinched first place in the group already. Iran waits to see the result of the next group game but they will absolutely have to win against Bosnia in order to escape the group.

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