Quick Look
- Belgium and Iran are locked at 0-0 at halftime in California.
- Despite Belgium's dominance in possession (81%) and shots (11-2), they struggled to create clear chances, with Romelu Lukaku looking off the pace.
- Iran had a goal disallowed for offside by VAR, with Mehdi Taremi ruled offside by his backside.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Belgium and Iran are playing a match, with the score tied 0-0 at halftime. Belgium has dominated possession and shots, but Iran's defense has been strong, and they had a goal disallowed for offside.
Live score: Belgium vs IR Iran
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By Henry Hanson
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59' How hasn't Belgium scored there!
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By Henry Hanson
What a remarkable intervention from Alireza Beiranvand.
Kevin de Bruyne takes the sweetest of touches to control a floated ball deep in the penalty area, before squaring the ball across the six-yard box.
It evades Romelu Lukaku but rebounds off a white shirt and falls invitingly to Maxim De Cuyper, who looks destined to score from point-blank range.
However, Iranian shot stopper Beiranvand produces one of the saves of the tournament to deny the fullback, scrambling to his left and throwing out an almighty left arm.
55' Lukaku's touch deserts him
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By Henry Hanson
He's got into some good positions, but he's just looked a little off the pace today, has Romelu Lukaku.
The Belgian spearhead's latest contribution to the game comes in the penalty area, where a heavy touch sees a half-chance get away from him.
53' A warning sign for Belgium!
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By Henry Hanson
Iran breaks forward for the first time in the half, and Belgium is caught napping at the back.
Mehdi Taremi is on hand to snap an effort towards goal, but it's too close to Thibaut Courtois, and the Belgian custodian makes a routine save.
That's Iran's first shot on target since the 14th minute of the game.
50' Chance Belgium! Sweet hit!
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By Henry Hanson
Kevin de Bruyne lofts in a tempting corner and Alexis Saelemaekers is all alone at the back post.
Saelemaekers catches the volley sweetly, but it's off target and into the side netting.
48' A painful one for Trossard
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By Henry Hanson
Leandro Trossard cops a really painful one from the newly arrived Alireza Jahanbakhsh, who rakes his studs down the back of Trossard's leg.
The Arsenal man is down for some time and this one feels like a decision that could be sent to VAR for further inspection.
But it's not, and Jahanbakhsh escapes a booking.
Trossard gingerly returns to his feet.
We're back underway
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By Henry Hanson
And Iran has made a half-time substitution, with Alireza Jahanbakhsh coming on for Saleh Hardani.
I'd imagine that means Team Melli will be moving from a back five to a back four, with Jahanbakhsh taking up a more forward position on the right.
HT stats
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By Henry Hanson
Belgium, unsurprisingly, well on top across the half-time statistics.
Expected goals: BEL 0.90 - 0.14 IRA
Shots: BEL 11 - 2 IRA
Shots on target: BEL 4 - 1 IRA
Accurate passes: BEL 322 - 50 IRA
Possession BEL 81% - 19% IRA
We're not far away from the start of the second half in California.
HT: Belgium 0 - 0 Iran
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By Henry Hanson
For all their possession, territory and neat passing at the edge of the penalty, the Belgians didn't create too much of note in that first period.
Romelu Lukaku made a nuisance of himself in the penalty area, but looked to be lacking sharpness after a six-month stretch with next to no first-team football.
Iran, meanwhile, was very well organised defensively and consistently managed to get white shirts between the ball and the goal.
And it was Team Melli that conjured the moment of the first half, with Mehdi Taremi only denied an opening goal by the finest of margins.
The Iranian veteran had turned the ball into the net after a slick set-piece routine, but the goal was ruled out by VAR, with Taremi caught offside by his protruding backside.
We have an intriguing second 45 ahead of us.
45+6' Set piece for Iran
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By Henry Hanson
Iran earns a free kick just forward of the halfway line and looks to swing a ball into the box in the dying embers of the first half.
The cross is floated and tame and easily dealt with by the Belgian defence.
45' We're into eight minutes of stoppage time
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By Henry Hanson
Belgium continues to press forward without any real bite.
Romelu Lukaku is getting plenty of service but has been unable to make much use of it.
The big centre-forward mis-controls a cross on his chest before failing to get on the end of an over-hit through ball from Yuri Tielemans.
We're into eight minutes of stoppage time.
41' Possession turned over as Belgium takes too long with a throw-in
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By Henry Hanson
Belgium's Thomas Meunier is winding up for a long throw into the box, but he winds up for just a little too long.
The five-second countdown is one of a number of new rules brought in for this World Cup.
Simon Smale breaks them all down below.
40' Belgium from the dead ball
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By Henry Hanson
Kevin de Bruyne is wreaking havoc through the lines for Belgium, and is on the receiving end of another heavy challenge.
He wins a free kick about 35m out from goal, and it's floated into the box by the left foot of Maxim De Cuyper.
The ball is underhit, and the Iranian defence easily clears.
36' Lukaku rises
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By Henry Hanson
Some good movement from Romelu Lukaku in the penalty area.
The big man shakes off his marker to rise for a header, but his effort is mistimed and well over the bar.
The offside flag was up in any case.
33' And we're back
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By Henry Hanson
What a lovely set of advertisements!
It seems they're getting better and better with every game.
Belgium begins the second quarter with a spell of possession in Iranian territory.
30' And we've reached quarter time in LA
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By Henry Hanson
The Belgian players head to the hydration break counting their lucky stars, while Iran will be feeling a mixture of disappointment and encouragement after that disallowed goal.
0-0 at Los Angeles Stadium.
26' Iran has the ball in the net! But it's offside!
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By Henry Hanson
Iran is given a free-kick for a handball about 35m from goal.
Ehsan Hajsafi stands over the dead ball for what seems like an age.
It looks like he's lining up a shot, but it's a lovely piece of trickery from the defender, who instead rolls the ball forward, where Mehdi Taremi turns on the edge of the penalty area and slots the ball into the back of the net.
However, there is a long delay as VAR combs through the footage.
The offside flag stayed down, but it looked very, very tight.
And unfortunately for Iran, the goal won't stand.
Taremi on the wrong side of the line by the finest of margins.
22' Tielemans gets a shot away
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By Henry Hanson
Belgian captain Youri Tielemans pops up in the penalty area, and makes good contact with a bobbling ball.
The Aston Villa midfielder tries to catch Alireza Beiranvand out at his near post, but it's another good save from the Iranian 'keeper.
19' Confident take from Beiranvand
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By Henry Hanson
It's good to see Alireza Beiranvand commanding his box with authority after that early knock.
The Iranian goalkeeper does well to come forward and claim a cross after Kevin de Bruyne plays a lovely ball through the lines.
Open Questions
- Will Belgium break through Iran's defense in the second half?
- Can Iran create more chances offensively?
- Will substitutions impact the game's outcome?