The U.S. beat Iran 1-0 in a gutsy must-win game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday, helping the team qualify for the second round of the tournament where it will face the Netherlands in a knockout-stage game this weekend, Deadline reports.
Christian Pulisic made the difference with a charging goal in the 38th minute of a dominant first half for the Americans at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha. It was the 22nd U.S. goal for the Chelsea striker, though he was injured during the play and was subbed out at halftime.
The U.S. needed a victory in the Group B match to advance. With the win, they will play Group A winner the Dutch to open the second-round knockout stage Saturday. That game will air on it the U.S. on Fox, Telemundo and Peacock at 10 a.m. ET.
The U.S. missed the World Cup in 2018 but has now reached the round of 16 for three consecutive World Cup appearances and in four of its past five overall. The win also snapped a five-game winless streak for Team USA that included a disappointing 1-1 tie in its World Cup opener against Wales, and a much stronger effort but a 0-0 tie against eventual Group B winner England.
England beat Wales 3-0 in the other final group game today and will play Senegal in the knockout round. Iran and Wales have been eliminated.
On Pulisic’s goal, Weston McKennie’s through ball found Sergiño Dest, who headed it across the goal box to a charging Pulisic. He pushed the ball on one hop past reaching Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand but the two collided. Pulisic stayed down for several minutes. His status for the rest of the team’s tournament run is unclear.
The U.S. dominated possession in the first half and had a 8-0 lead in shots, but the second half was more nervy as Iran pressed for the equalizer. The U.S. made more defensive subs late and sweated through 9-plus minutes of extra time, including central defender Walker Zimmerman, one of those subs, cleared away one ball off goal line after it got past U.S. keeper Matt Turner in 98th minute to help the cause.
