Pulisic condemns Iran and prolongs the American dream

Pulisic condemns Iran and prolongs the American dream

A goal from the Chelsea forward puts the United States in the round of 16, where they will face the Netherlands

MADRID, 29 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The United States team has achieved a pass to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, where they will face the Netherlands, after beating Iran (0-1) on Tuesday, all in a match in which the team of the 'Stars and Stripes' a solitary goal from Christian Pulisic was enough for him to guarantee second place in Group B.

The North American team, who went to the third and final day with two points, knew how to take advantage of the excess of Persian euphoria; the Chelsea striker, after half an hour, put Gregg Berhalter's men ahead before leaving the field injured. Carlos Queiroz's box tried to neutralize the goal and even called for a penalty on Taremi in discount, but finally had to say goodbye to Qatar.

The tension of the previous days, in which the removal of the shield of the Islamic Republic from the Iranian flag by US Soccer unleashed the anger of the Asian country, which even went so far as to request the expulsion of the North American team from the World Cup, jumped onto the field in the most political party of the appointment.

Faced with the clear Persian superiority in the stands, the Americans dominated on the pitch oblivious to the deafening noise from the Al Thumama Stadium, which saw Gregg Berhalter's men approaching the Iranian area although they had not finished their plays successfully.

The 'Yankee' insistence found a reward in a great ball from Weston McKennie to uncheck the former Barcelona player Sergiño Dest, who assisted Christian Pulisic so that he sent the ball into the back of the net while colliding with the goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand, who also suffered a chilling blow in the duel against England and returned to the goal this Tuesday (min.39).

The Chelsea striker, visibly injured, held out alone until the end of the first half, closed with a goal from Tim Weah that the Spanish referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz canceled out for a millimeter offside beforehand. The United States, at halftime, momentarily secured the pass.

Saman Ghoddos, who entered the field of play after the restart, showed Iran's intentions, which was worth a tie to move to the round of 16 -England had already beaten Wales in the other Group B match-, with a header in the 52 who was walking near the goal of Matt Turner.

Carlos Queiroz's men tightened, desperately hanging balls into the area in the long final discount, but the 'Stars and Stripes' team resisted, limiting themselves to waiting for a counterattack to close the contest that was not necessary in the end.

--RESULT: IRAN, 0 - UNITED STATES, 1 (0-1, at halftime).

IRAN: Beiranvand; Rezaeian, Hosseini, Pouraliganji, Mohammadi (Karimi, min. 45 2); Nourolahi (Torabi, min. 71), Ezatolahi, Hajsafi (Jalali, min. 71); Gholizadeh (Ansarifard, min. 77), Azmoun (Ghoddos, min. 46) and Taremi.

ESTADOS UNIDOS: Turner; Dest (Moore, min.82), Carter-Vickers, Ream, Robinson; Adams, McKennie (Acosta, min.65), Musah; Weah (Zimmerman, min.82), Sargent (Wright, min.77) y Pulisic (Aaronson, min.46).

0-1, min.38: Pulisic.

--REFEREE: Antonio Mateu Lahoz (ESP). He admonished Majid Hosseini (min.77), Mohammad Kanaani (min.83) and Abolfazl Jalali (min.96) for Iran and Tyler Adams (min.43) for the United States.

--STADIUM: Al Thumama. 42,127 viewers.