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Debuting at the World Cup, the Angolan team played a 1-1 draw against Iran in the third round match and finished the tournament in third place. Before these matches, Angola still had hopes of breaking through to the next stage, and with fifteen minutes left, they were still leading, but they couldn't maintain the lead and the match ended in a draw. This was Iran's first point in the championship, where the Asian representatives finished fourth in their group.
Iran 1 - 1 Angola
60' [0 - 1] Amado Flavio
75' [1 - 1] Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh
Iran: E.Mirzapour, H.Kaebi (67' A.Borhani), R.Rezaei, S.Bakhtiarizadeh, M.Nosrati (13' M.Shojaei), M.Mahdavikia, M.Madanchi, A.Teymourian, F.Zandi, A.Daei, V.Hashemian (38' R.Khatibi).
Angola: J.Ricardo, Loco, Jamba, C.Kali, L.Delgado, M.Miloy, N.Ze Kalanga, P.Figueiredo (73' R.Marques), A.Mendonca, A.Mateus (23' A.Love), Akwa (51' A.Flavio).
Both teams started the match actively, but did not create real chances. After about five minutes, Iran launched a quick attack, but the defenders cleared the ball into the penalty area. Iran retained possession, Mohammad Nosrati tried to break through on the left side, but the defender defended, and the Iranian player suffered an injury. Medics tried to assist the defender, but M.Nosrati did not return to the field and was replaced by Masoud Shojaei.
In the 10th minute, Angola launched a counterattack, at the end of which Andre Mateus had a chance to shoot at goal, but the shot from the move flew over the crossbar.
After a few minutes, Iranian player Ferydoonas Zandi infiltrated the penalty area, but his shot from a sharp angle was not dangerous and was saved by the Angolan goalkeeper.
After about twenty minutes, A.Mateus sprinted on the left side, but the Iranian defender managed to "scrape" the ball from under his feet. During this mini duel, A.Mateus unsuccessfully fell to the ground, was carried off the field and did not return.
Shortly after, another player left the field with the help of stretchers - Angola defender Loco injured himself trying to stop the opponent, but after receiving medical assistance, he was able to continue the match. By the way, in that episode, the referee saw Loco's foul and awarded a penalty kick to Angola. Mehdi Mahdavikia's shot was blocked by the Angolan goalkeeper.
Iran continued their attack and created a good opportunity to score - after a high pass into the penalty area, Ali Daei, unmarked, headed the ball from close range, but failed to hit the target.
After playing for about half an hour, another danger arose for Angola's goal, when an Iranian player headed the ball after a corner kick, but Antonio Mendonca cleared the ball from the goal line. The Iranians tried to repeat the shot, but did so unsuccessfully and Angola safely protected their goal.
After withstanding the opponent's pressure, Angola launched several attacks - the lone striker Akwa shot twice over the goal. During one attack, Angola earned four consecutive corner kicks, but failed to score.
Five minutes before the end of the first half, another player left the field due to injury - Angolan striker Akwa had to be replaced.
After four minutes, Iran's leader M.Mahdavikia once again tried to shoot from a distance, goalkeeper J.Ricardo once again saved his shot uncertainly, but the defenders rushed to the ball first and eliminated the danger.
The first goal of the match fell in the 60th minute - after a counterattack on the right side, the ball was passed into the penalty area, where Amado Flavio, left unmarked, sent the ball into the net with his head.
After conceding the goal, Iran took the initiative and began to press the opponents, while Angola tried to counterattack. In the 75th minute, they managed to equalize - after a corner kick, Iran's defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh headed the ball into the goal.
Iran continued to attack, but there were no more goals and the match ended 1-1. Angola secured their second point and took third place, while Iran remained in fourth position.
