By Daniel Akinte
After scrambling across his goal to deal with Kevin De Bruyne’s dangerous cross, Beiranvand looked beaten when the ball fell kindly for the Belgian defender inside the six-yard box. Yet, with remarkable reflexes, he stretched out a strong left hand to keep the effort out before gathering the loose ball.
READ RELATED STORY
2026 World cup: Brazil defeat Haiti 3-0 in convincing victory
Egypt stun Belgium in shock 1-1 draw as Africa roars at World Cup
Belgium, meanwhile, are facing growing pressure. Despite dominating possession and registering numerous attempts on goal, Rudi Garcia’s side once again failed to find the net.
Their frustrations deepened in the second half when defender Nathan Ngoy was sent off for bringing down Mehdi Taremi as the Iranian striker raced through on goal.
However, Beiranvand stood tall whenever called upon, frustrating Belgium’s attack and ensuring his side left Los Angeles with a precious point.
Iran also had moments of their own. Mehdi Taremi thought he had broken the deadlock in the first half after finishing a clever free-kick routine, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside. Thibaut Courtois was also required to make important saves to keep Belgium level.
Even after gaining a numerical advantage following Ngoy’s dismissal, Iran could not find a winner, though they arguably left the happier of the two teams.
For Iran, however, belief continues to grow. Inspired by Beiranvand’s heroics and a disciplined team performance, they remain on course to achieve what no Iranian side has managed before — a place in the World Cup knockout stage.
