Match report

Iran Defeats Morocco 1-0 in World Cup Clash

Morocco
Morocco
0–1
FT
Iran
Iran
Jun 15, 2018

Iran secured a vital 1-0 win against Morocco in a tense World Cup Group B encounter. Despite a valiant effort from Morocco, Iran's own goal by Ayoub El Kaabi in stoppage time proved decisive, securing the first points of the tournament for the Asian side.

Key Facts

  • • Final Score: Iran 1-0 Morocco
  • • Goal: Own Goal by Ayoub El Kaabi (90'+5)
  • • Yellow Cards: Masoud Shojaei (10'), Karim El Ahmadi (34'), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (47'), Karim Ansarifard (90')

Lineups

Morocco

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 12 M. Mohamedi (G)
  • 5 M. Benatia (D)
  • 2 A. Hakimi (D)
  • 8 K. El Ahmadi (M)
  • 14 M. Boussoufa (M)
  • 16 N. Amrabat (D)
  • 10 Y. Belhanda (M)
  • 6 R. Saïss (D)
  • 7 H. Ziyech (M)
  • 18 A. Harit (M)
  • 9 A. El Kaabi (F)

Substitutes

  • 21 S. Amrabat
  • 20 A. Bouhaddouz
  • 4 M. da Costa
  • 1 Y. Bounou
  • 3 H. Mendyl
  • 11 F. Fajr
  • 13 K. Boutaïb
  • 15 Y. Aït Bennasser
  • 17 N. Dirar
  • 19 Y. En-Nesyri
  • 22 A. Tagnaouti
  • 23 M. Carcela-González

Iran

Formation: 4-1-4-1

Starting XI

  • 1 A. Beiranvand (G)
  • 8 M. Pouraliganji (D)
  • 23 R. Rezaeian (D)
  • 4 R. Cheshmi (D)
  • 7 M. Shojaei (M)
  • 3 E. Hajsafi (D)
  • 9 O. Ebrahimi (M)
  • 10 K. Ansarifard (M)
  • 20 S. Azmoun (F)
  • 18 A. Jahanbakhsh (M)
  • 11 V. Amiri (M)

Substitutes

  • 17 M. Taremi
  • 19 M. Hosseini
  • 14 S. Ghoddos
  • 2 M. Torabi
  • 5 M. Mohammadi
  • 12 M. Mazaheri
  • 13 M. Khanzadeh
  • 15 P. Montazeri
  • 16 R. Ghoochannejhad
  • 21 A. Dejagah
  • 22 A. Abedzadeh

Timeline

  1. Iran
    10' Iran Card · Yellow Card
    Masoud Shojaei

    Foul

  2. Morocco
    34' Morocco Card · Yellow Card
    Karim El Ahmadi

    Foul

  3. Iran
    47' Iran Card · Yellow Card
    Alireza Jahanbakhsh

    Foul

  4. Iran
    68' Iran subst · Substitution 1
    Off: Masoud Shojaei · On: M. Taremi
  5. Morocco
    76' Morocco subst · Substitution 1
    Off: N. Amrabat · On: S. Amrabat
  6. Morocco
    77' Morocco subst · Substitution 2
    Off: Ayoub El Kaabi · On: A. Bouhaddouz
  7. Iran
    80' Iran subst · Substitution 2
    Off: O. Ebrahimi · On: M. Hosseini
  8. Morocco
    82' Morocco subst · Substitution 3
    Off: A. Harit · On: M. da Costa
  9. Iran
    85' Iran subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Alireza Jahanbakhsh · On: S. Ghoddos
  10. Iran
    90'+5 Iran Goal · Own Goal
    A. Bouhaddouz
  11. Iran
    90' Iran Card · Yellow Card
    Karim Ansarifard

    Foul

Match Stats

Stat Morocco Iran
Fouls 22 14
Pass Accuracy 81% 58%
Offsides — —
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 13 9
Corners 5 2
Total Passes 461 218
Yellow Cards 1 3
Blocked Shots 4 1
Shots on Target 3 2
Shots off Target 6 6
Possession 67% 33%
Accurate Passes 374 127
Shots Inside Box 9 6
Saves 2 3
Shots Outside Box 4 4

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Iran's early yellow cards to Masoud Shojaei (10') and Alireza Jahanbakhsh (47') set the tone for a disciplined defensive performance that stifled Morocco’s attack.
  • ▸ The decisive own goal by Ayoub El Kaabi in the 90th minute of added time gave Iran the unexpected lead and the victory, shifting the momentum completely in their favor.