Belgium were held to a scoreless draw by Iran in a frustrating encounter that saw the Red Devils reduced to 10 men, making qualifying more complicated for them.
Belgium have now drawn back-to-back matches at this World Cup. But it could have been a very different story had the country’s all-time leading scorer, Romelu Lukaku connected with Kevin de Bruyne’s inviting cross inside the opening five minutes. Belgium controlled possession in the first half and yet ceded the game’s best chances to a resolute Iranian defence.
Iran’s Mehdi Taremi had the ball in the net from a well-worked first-half free kick that was overturned for offside by VAR.
A string of outstanding saves from Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranv kept Iran in the game and Nathan Ngoy was sent off in the 66th minutes for hauling down the striker following a badly mishit back-pass.
The result leaves the 2018 semi-finalists in danger of failing to progress from Group G. Belgium need to beat New Zealand in their final group match to go through.
For Iran, meanwhile – who have only been allowed to fly into the United States a day before each match – the draw means it is the first time they have avoided defeat in their opening two matches of a World Cup.
