Ten-man Belgium failed to break down the stubborn Iranian defence and were held to a 0-0 draw in their World Cup Group C match in Los Angeles on Sunday.
Belgium’s chances took a major hit in the 66th minute when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off with a straight red card. Ngoy mis-hit a pass, allowing Iran striker Mehdi Taremi to intercept the ball and break through on goal before being brought down by the Belgian defender.
Despite having an extra player for the final stages of the match, Iran struggled to make the most of the advantage. They created few clear chances, while Belgium continued to attack and put pressure on the Iranian defence.
Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was outstanding throughout the match, making several crucial saves. His best moment came in the second half when he somehow denied Maxim De Cuyper from point-blank range with a remarkable stop.
The result leaves both teams on two points from two matches. Iran will face Egypt in Seattle on Friday, while Belgium take on New Zealand in Vancouver, with qualification from the group still up for grabs.
Belgium controlled much of the first half but lacked sharpness in front of goal and struggled to turn possession into clear chances.
The game started physically, with striker Romelu Lukaku receiving a yellow card just three minutes in after a late challenge while chasing a loose ball. The challenge left Beiranvand on the ground for several minutes.
Iran thought they had taken the lead shortly before the first-half cooling break. From a free kick, Ehsan Hajisafi cleverly played the ball through the wall to Taremi, who finished well. However, a VAR review ruled the goal out for offside.
Belgium coach Rudi Garcia had said before the match that Lukaku’s playing time needed to be carefully managed, but he still started the striker and kept him on the pitch until the 74th minute.
Iran have faced challenges off the pitch as well. Due to special measures imposed by the U.S. government, the team has been unable to stay inside the United States between matches, and several Iranian staff members and officials have been barred from travelling.
The atmosphere inside the stadium was lively, with Iran receiving huge support from the crowd. More than 70,000 fans attended and Iranian supporters clearly outnumbered the Belgian fans.
