Iran were gifted a late 1-0 victory over Morocco in their opening World Cup match Friday when Aziz Bouhaddouz headed into his own net five minutes into injury time.
The Group match B in Saint Petersburg had been heading for a goalless draw until Bouhaddouz's unfortunate intervention as he tried to clear Ehsan Haji Safi's cross but only directed it past his own goalkeeper.
1 - Since 1966, Iran are the first team to score a goal in a half of football in the World Cup without attempting a single shot in that half. Fortunate. #MARIRN #MAR #IRN #WorldCup pic.twitter.com/AVD7xVJfU9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 15, 2018
Earlier, Iran's famed defence again proved unbreachable for the first half.
The two outsiders in a group also containing Spain and Portugal were relatively cautious in a game neither can afford to lose, though after Morocco fashioned a handful of half-chances they needed a good save to deny Sardar Azmoun just before the interval.
RESULT
Morocco 0 Iran 1 (Bouhaddouz 90+5-og)