Elijah Just’s brace puts New Zealand on the verge of a historic win before Iran stages a comeback to earn a point in its World Cup opener.
Iran was forced to settle for a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in an entertaining FIFA World Cup Group G encounter, as the underdogs came agonizingly close to securing their first-ever victory at the tournament.
Ranked 20th in the latest FIFA rankings, Iran entered the match as favorites against 85th-ranked New Zealand. However, the Oceania side produced a spirited performance and twice took the lead before Iran fought back to claim a share of the points.
New Zealand striker Elijah Just emerged as the star of the match, scoring on either side of halftime. His first goal arrived in the seventh minute after captain Chris Wood brilliantly controlled a long goal kick and provided the assist. Just finished the move with a well-struck volley to stun the Iranian supporters.
Iran responded with increased attacking pressure and came close through Mehdi Taremi, whose long-range effort struck the post in the 23rd minute. The equalizer finally arrived in the 32nd minute when defender Ramin Rezaeian capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area and calmly found the net.
The Asian side thought it had taken the lead in first-half stoppage time, but Ali Nemati’s header was ruled out for offside.
New Zealand regained the advantage in the 54th minute when Just scored his second goal of the match. Once again, Wood played a crucial role, setting up the forward for a composed finish from a tight angle.
The lead lasted only 10 minutes. Iran midfielder Mohammad Mohebbi found space inside the box and headed home from close range to level the score at 2-2.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei later praised the atmosphere created by his team’s supporters and confirmed that striker Mehdi Taremi would undergo medical assessment after appearing to pick up an injury late in the game.
Meanwhile, New Zealand head coach Darren Bazeley expressed pride in his team’s display despite missing out on a historic victory.
He said his players had shown their quality on the world stage and remained confident about their chances in the tournament.
The result leaves Group G wide open after Belgium and Egypt also shared the points in a 1-1 draw, ensuring that all four teams remain level after the opening round of matches.
