World Cup 2018: Own-goal costs Morocco dear as Iran triumph in injury time

• Morocco dominate early exchanges, without finding the net

• Aziz Bouhaddouz heads decisive own-goal in 96th minute

• Jose Gimenez grabs late Uruguay winner to break Egypt hearts

• Portugal vs Spain, live blog - (7pm kick-off)

Iran left it as late as possible to sink Morocco and take all three points in their opening World Cup Group B game, with Aziz Bouhaddouz turning the ball into his own net deep into injury time to give Carlos Queiroz's side a 1-0 win.

A stubborn Iran display looked to have ensured honours would end even at the Krestovsky Stadium with Morocco unable to turn their superior possession into goals for more than 90 minutes.

The African side had started brightly without unduly testing goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand and it was Iran who came closest to taking an unlikely lead just before half-time when Sardar Azmoun broke in behind the Moroccan defence, only for the chance to eventually be squandered.

With both sides aware how damaging a defeat could be in a group that also contains European heavyweights Spain and Portugal, the cagey theme continued in the second half.

Petty fouls littered the play and the game looked to have petered out only for Morocco's Bouhaddouz to head Ehsan Haji Safi's free-kick into his own net at the near post in the 96th minute, prompting wild celebrations from the Iranian contingent. 

6:18PM

Facts from OPTA

• Morocco have never won their opening match at a World Cup tournament (D2 L3), also failing to win in 1970, 1986, 1994 and 1998.

• Iran won just their second match at the World Cup (D3 L8), with this their first since beating USA in June 1998.

• Iran did not attempt a single shot in the second half and were the first team since 1966 to score a goal in a half of World Cup football without attempting a shot.

• Iran kept only their second World Cup clean sheet – their other came in a goalless draw with Nigeria in June 2014.

• Aziz Bouhaddouz’s own-goal in the 95th minute was only the second own-goal scored in the 90th minute in a World Cup match, after Joseph Yobo for Nigeria against France in June 2014.

• Iran have conceded just two goals in their last four matches, keeping three clean sheets.

• Carlos Queiroz has never lost against an African nation in the World Cup (W1 D2), keeping three clean sheets in those matches.

• 82% of the total shots in this match (18 of 22) came in the first half.

• Aziz Bouhaddouz is just the third player to score an own-goal as a substitute in a World Cup match, after Laszlo Dajka (1986 for Hungary against USSR) and Petit (2006 for Portugal against Germany).

• This was the first victory by an Asian team against an African team in the World Cup finals since Japan won 1-0 against Cameroon in June 2010.

6:16PM

'Gift from nowhere'

6:14PM

That sums it up well

5:57PM

FULL-TIME: Morocco 0 Iran 1

And that's it! Morocco with one final long ball into the box but Iran clear. A game to forget really until that quite incredible finish. Poor Bouhaddouz - he couldn't have placed it any better if he tried.

5:55PM

GGOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLL! Morocco 0 Iran 1 (O.G. Bouhaddouz 90 +5)

Can you believe it! Free-kick whipped in by Hajsafi and it's an own goal at the near post, Bouhaddouz thumping a header into his own net. Elation for Iran, proper heartbreak for Morocco. 95 minutes in!

5:54PM

90 +4 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Ghoddos fouled and Iran will get one last chance from the left touchline with a free kick. Crowd confirmed as 62,000, which is very impressive.

5:52PM

90 +2 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Bit of a fallout on the touchline, of all places, between Hervé Renard it looks like and Iranian coaching staff after a foul.

Four minutes to go...

5:51PM

SIX MINUTES OF ADDED TIME

Because we all want more. Cherish these final few moments.

5:50PM

89 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

So Morocco are now unbeaten (if it stays this way) in their last 19 games. But they're also painfully wasteful up front. Heading into extra-time now.

5:47PM

More thoughts on Amrabat's concussion

5:47PM

84 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Second half ebbing away now. This is great for Portugal in fairness. Poor cross brings an end to a Moroccan chance and Iran stumble on the counter.

5:45PM

The teams for Portugal-Spain

5:44PM

82 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Harit down with cramp. That feels... cynical. Actually now he's on a stretcher so I feel terrible. Ghoddos comes on.

5:41PM

80 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Cleared away by Iran but Morocco look lively now, a win still not out of the question. Manuel da Costa coming on for Morocco.

5:40PM

77 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

That's better! Ziyech on the volley forces a save, lashed that with his left foot. Morocco corner.

5:39PM

75 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

El Kaabi also off now, Bouhaddouz on. Ebrahimi has been down for about ten minutes after a knock. The stretcher's out as he stands up.

Reckon they just want a draw? I sure do.

5:34PM

72 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Nordin Amrabat looks as though he's been knocked out after his head hit the ground. Very groggy getting to his feet - not sure slapping him in the face will help! He's got to come off, and does.

5:29PM

68 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Harit and El Kaabi haven't quite connected all game. Another through ball there into the box fails to come off.

Then up the other end Jahanbakhsh gets into the box but can't deliver a cross. That's better. Poor corner though, easily cleared.

5:27PM

66 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

First chance coming, Taremi replacing Shojaei the captain. Hajsafi now the man in charge for Iran.

5:24PM

64 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Ehsan Hajsafi of Iran goes down pathetically in the corner to win a free-kick. And that's been a recent highlight! Strewth.

This sign was noticeably up earlier.

5:23PM

62 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Corner for Morocco after Cheshmi clears with El Kaabi lurking. Big moment?

Boussoufa swings it in, well punched away. Iran trying to break but Morocco retreat quickly to snuff it out.

5:20PM

58 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Lots of long balls from Iran which are not proving effective at all. Time for some subs. Which manager will make the first move...

5:15PM

55 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

It's gone a touch flat. Nice tackle by Ebrahimi though to stop a Moroccan break. He's stayed down, hopefully not too serious. Think he's just winded.

5:11PM

53 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

 Some encouragement for Morocco from our man in St. Petersburg.

5:09PM

49 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Boussoufa not happy with a challenge by Ramin Rezaeian. Morocco starting the second half in much the same way as the first, deep in Iran's half. Amrabat lively, cross to the back post to Harit who skies it. 

5:07PM

47 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Speaking of Amrabat, he gets behind and whips in a cross that sadly finds nobody. Promising though. Alireza Jahanbakhsh gets a booking for standing on the foot of Ziyech.

5:05PM

Both teams back out for the second half

Quite hard to call at this point. Sardar for Iran and El Kaabi for Morocco need more support up top, no doubt. Amrabat went quieter as the first half progressed but he looked dangerous down that right wing for Morocco early on.

4:51PM

HALF-TIME: Morocco 0 Iran 0

First half slowly edging towards the break. Morocco must be ruing the fact they started so well but failed to convert.

That chance for Sardar will haunt him given the options he had. It's tight! And not the worst game you've seen either.

4:47PM

42 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Huge chance!  Sardar breaks, two players to his left and only the goalkeeper but Munir saves! Best chance of the game for either side totally squandered.

Hajsafi fouled, Iran free-kick well outside the box... over. Still, Iran making a right game of this now.

4:42PM

39 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Ziyech tries to whip in a cross but it's just ahead of El Kaabi. Back up the other end and Saiss clears.

Pretty sure Rezaeian and Amiri are arguing about a throw. The latter sends in a long one but Morocco handle that well and clear.

4:39PM

37 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Sardar now down getting some treatment, which is bad news for Iran. He's looked handy. Physio gives a thumbs-up, so he'll be alright.

4:37PM

34 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Sardar having a run gets his heels clipped. That's a yellow for El Ahmadi. Free-kick from Sardar is skied well over the goal.

4:35PM

32 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Ball into the box from Iran comes to nothing. They are yet to have a shot on target.

4:32PM

30 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Nice run from Harit, stepping past one but his right-foot shot can't curl around Alireza Beiranvand in the Iran goal. It's all there for Morocco, apart from the end product.

4:29PM

27 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Long-range efforts by Hakimi and Belhanda don't come off, Cheshmi blocking the first effort. Looked a little painful.

4:27PM

24 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Iran needed that territory, just eased the pressure a little. Slightly dodgy throw-in technique though from Hajsafi.

Half-chance for Azmoun from a flick-on, but he can't properly turn on the spot to shoot on his right foot. This is better from Iran.

4:22PM

20 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Cleared away by Iran, pressing well. There was a VAR check for a hand ball but nothing there.

Rare break for Iran and Karim scuffs a shot, wasting a 3-on-2. That was a huge chance!

4:21PM

16 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Morocco's possession currently hovering above 70 percent but Iran are settling into this. Down goes Belhanda from an Amiri tackle, a little too easily. Belhanda to chip this into the box... massive scramble! Benatia, Belhanda have a go after Ziyech's initial shot is blocked. Corner.

4:16PM

13 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Smart move that down the left by Iran from a throw, whipping in a cross that's caught by Munir. Nice bit of invention though.

Back come Morocco but Belhanda's cross is poor. Iran fans enjoyed that. A happier moment than when their boot supply was pulled by Nike.

4:13PM

10 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Early booking for Iran, nasty contact on Hakimi by Shojaei. Amrabat then concedes a foul trying to force a corner near the Iran box.

Put it this way, Morocco will be disappointed if they fail to convert this early pressure into a goal.

4:10PM

8 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Cheshmi getting a proper telling off but it's Omid Ebrahimi who should be getting the talk after flying in on Harit. No VAR intervention.

Amrabat given plenty of room to work down the right wing. High press from Morocco successfully keeping Iran pinned in their half.

Ball over the top drops to El Kaabi but he never gets hold of the shot, wide to the left.

4:06PM

6 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Very one-sided start. Belhanda heads over at the near post from Amrabat's cross. Excellent start for Morocco.

4:05PM

4 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

Couple of long balls for Iran doing very little. Corner for Morocco, Benatia coming up. Belhanda to the edge of the box and Ziyech with a complete swing and a miss at the edge of the box! That was comical. Another corner... punched away by Alireza Beiranvand.

4:03PM

2 mins - Morocco 0 Iran 0

The vuvuzelas are out by the sounds of things. Time on the ball for Benatia, trying to pick a man wide. Half chance for Harit who shoots well wide to the right.

4:02PM

Kick-off!

Morocco in red, Iran in white - no colour-blindness complications today. El Kaabi quite literally gets the ball rolling.

3:58PM

Anthems done and dusted

Considering the size of the St Petersburg Stadium - official capacity 64,287 - it looks pretty full. Kick-off is imminent.

3:55PM

Two to keep an eye on

And both are in Moroccan's defence. Romain Saiss has recently won promotion with Wolves and will be the Premier League next season.  Achraf Hakimi is a 19 year-old right back/centre back currently with Real Madrid.

3:46PM

Formations

As you can see, exactly the same systems. The onus is on Amrabat and Harit to give Morocco width. Iran just have to get the ball up to Sardar, with Jahanbakhsh the key man in that regard.

3:42PM

Iran's qualification record

Only right to give Iran's qualification performance plenty of praise after they conceded only two goals, winning six of their 10 games and drawing the remaining four.

Coached by a familiar face in Carlos Quieroz, Iran love a 1-0 win, registering four against Uzbekistan, South Korea, Qatar and China.

3:25PM

Morocco's last visit to the World Cup...

...was all the way back at France 1998. Morocco missed out on qualification for the last 16 by a point, coming behind eventual finalists Brazil and also Norway.

The highlight of their campaign was a 3-0 win over Scotland in Saint-Étienne, with goals coming from  Salaheddine Bassir (2) and Abdeljalil Hadda.

3:20PM

No overpriced squads here

Iran have one of the least expensive squads at this World Cup... although not the cheapest. See where they rank.

3:10PM

Teams are in!

Confirmation of the two sides. No Dirar for Morocco, who was a fitness concern earlier in the week. Benatia leads their side.

Sardar Azmoun will lead the attack for Iran, the 23 year-old Rubin Kazan forward.

2:58PM

All over at the Yekaterinburg Arena

A fine header from Jose Gimenez has clinched a deserved 1-0 win for Uruguay over Egypt.

2:40PM

Unbeaten Morocco

Manager Hervé Renard's side came through Group C of their qualification campaign unbeaten, after three wins and three draws in Group C of the CAF Confederation qualification.

Their best result came in the final round, a 2-0 win in Ivory Coast thanks to goals from Nabil Dirar and Medhi Benatia (pictured).

2:34PM

The game you've been waiting for

Good afternoon one and all! The middle of today's three matches is almost upon us, or as I like to think of it, the proper meaty centre of Friday's World Cup sandwich.

Morocco and Iran have never met at a World Cup, making this truly a historic day between the 41st and 37th ranked sides in the world.

A bit of background reading here on Morocco and Iran, which I imagine you will find extremely useful. Let's all hope that we get more of a significant contest than Russia's opener against Saudi Arabia.

Considering that heavyweights Portugal and Spain lie in wait later in the group stage, points today are absolutely essential for both sides if they want to have any hopes at all of making the knockouts. No one really expects them to. But that would be fun wouldn't it?

Truly outstanding selection of fruit and vegetables available for the Iran team by the looks of things.