Spain have won for the first time at this
World Cup, beating
Iran 1-0 in Kazan thanks to
Diego Costa’s goal. As a result the 2010 winners are level with Portugal at the top of the group, having drawn 3-3 with their Iberian neighbours on Friday. Iran are third, with three points.
Costa scored the only goal of the game and it was the result of extraordinary luck, with Ramin Rezaeian’s tackle cannoning off the shins of the attacker and flying past Alireza Beiranvand in the Iran goal.
Iran thought they had an equaliser in the second half when Saeid Ezatolahi crashed the ball home but the midfielder was adjudged offside and a VAR check confirmed the assistant referee’s decision.
Spain conclude their Group B campaign next Monday against eliminated Morocco in Kaliningrad. Iran will simultaneously play Portugal in Saransk.