FIFA 2022: US advance in World Cup match as Pulisic's lone goal crushes Iran

Doha: Tuesday's politically charged rivalry game saw Christian Pulisic score the winning goal to advance the United States into the round of 16 of the World Cup.

The Chelsea sensation Pulisic scored the game's lone goal in the decisive Group B match in minute 38 to set up a second-round clash with the Group A champions the Netherlands on Saturday.

In just the third international football match between the fierce ideological foes, the young US team of coach Gregg Berhalter earned the victory.

Tension had been progressively rising as the tense matchup neared, with Iran's football association requesting on Sunday that FIFA punish US Soccer for using a modified version of their national flag on social media, AFP reported.

The US avenged their 1998 World Cup loss to Iran to knock the Asian qualifiers out of the competition, but despite the explosive atmosphere at Doha's Al Thumama Stadium, Tuesday's game went off without incident.

During the game's opening moments, the 42,127-person audience let up a loud cacophony of air horns and cheers as Iran's supporters shouted their team onto the field.

Despite the intimidating reception, though, it was the Americans who appeared more at ease and swiftly cemented their supremacy.

Iran struggled to establish a foothold as Weston McKennie of Juventus and US captain Tyler Adams controlled play in midfield.

After just two minutes, the US showed their will to attack when Pulisic surged forward menacingly before being taken down.

That was a preview of what was to come as they besieged the Iranian goal.

Yunus Musah, a midfielder for Valencia, missed a shot, and Pulisic narrowly missed with a header from an Antonee Robinson cross.

The Americans' right-side fullback Sergino Dest was a persistent menace, sending in a cross in the 17th minute that Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand could barely parry.

In the 38th minute, the breakthrough eventually occurred following persistent US pressure.

McKennie made a great cross-field pass that found Dest on the right.

The AC Milan defender sent the ball back across the goal, where Pulisic boldly scored.

While Pulisic's need for prolonged care following a severe collision with Beiranvand alarmed US supporters, the Iranians and their noisy fans were left exhausted by the goal.

The audience immediately went quieter, and before halftime, the US had two opportunities to double their lead.

With a brilliant counterattack, Josh Sargent and Tim Weah worked well together, but the last pass was missed.

Weah then finished superbly past Beiranvand in stoppage time thanks to McKennie's sublime assist, but it was just ruled that he was offside.

The Iranians increased their pressure in the second half since they knew that an equaliser would advance them to the second round.

Saman Ghoddos, a replacement, missed two golden opportunities to help his team tie the game, first heading over from close range and then launching a shot over the bar with the entire goal in view in the 65th minute.

Soon after, Saeid Ezatolahi curled a long shot over the bar as the Americans continued to take unnecessary risks.

In the final ten minutes, Iran once more came close to scoring when Ali Karimi narrowly missed converting an eye-catching cross from Ezatolahi.

Morteza Pouraliganji narrowly missed with a diving header in stoppage time, and Mehdi Taremi received calls for a penalty following a collision with Cameron Carter Vickers waved off to calm American anxieties before their squad held on for a historic victory.