2022-11-29T21:06:16Z
Christian Pulisic could not even celebrate scoring against Iran after he injured himself as the United States beat Iran 1-0 on Tuesday in an entertaining Group B decider to storm into the last 16 of the World Cup.
Needing a win to reach the knockout stages, the Americans were relentless in attack in a high-tempo game and broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Sergino Dest’s perfect header found Pulisic, who clashed with the goalkeeper as he bundled the ball in and was too injured to celebrate.
Spurred on by an electric atmosphere at Doha’s Al Thumama stadium, the U.S. team oozed confidence and was always in control against an Iran side who could have advanced with a draw.
Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie were instrumental in almost every U.S. move, with Dest always troubling Iran, who were outplayed and created few chances.
The meeting between the two diplomatic adversaries was the first at a World Cup since the 1998 tournament in France, a match dubbed “the mother of all football matches”.
Related Galleries:
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – Iran v United States – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Christian Pulisic of the U.S. scores their first goal Pool via REUTERS/Stuart Franklin
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – Iran v United States – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Christian Pulisic of the U.S. after he collides with Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand and scores their first goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – Iran v United States – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Christian Pulisic of the U.S. scores their first goal REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – Iran v United States – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Matt Turner of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Molly Darlington
Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Group B – Iran v United States – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar – November 29, 2022 Walker Zimmerman of the U.S. in action REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
