Iran recorded their first win at a World Cup in 20 years courtesy of a 95th-minute own goal, which consigned Morocco to a 1-0 defeat in on Friday’s Group B opener.
It appeared as though two teams who had relied upon their defensive records throughout qualifying had cancelled each other out until Aziz Bouhaddouz miscued his headed clearance deep into stoppage time in Saint-Petersberg.
A draw would not have been a good result for either side as they aim to upset the odds in a group which also contains Spain and Portugal, but it was the least that Morocco deserved having dominated the match for long periods.
Herve Renard’s side started brightly and had a constant outlet down the right through former Watford winger Nordin Amrabat.
While the supply line was initially there, their finishing lacked conviction as both Amine Harit and Ayoub El Kaabi dragged shots wide.
Morocco’s best chance fell to Juventus defender Medhi Benatia, who stabbed the ball towards goal during an 18th-minute penalty box scramble, only to be denied by a combination of Ramin Rezaeian and goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Once Iran settled into the game, the organisation that helped them keep 14 clean sheets in 18 qualifying games quelled the early Morocco threat, and Carlos Quieroz’s side even created a couple of chances of their own before the break.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, the top scorer in the Eredivisie last season with 21 goals for AZ, scuffed his left-footed shot after being released on the overlap, while Mounir El Kajoui made an important point-blank save from Sardar Azmoun on 44 minutes.
Defences continued to be on top in the second period with Morocco, who themselves conceded only one goal en route to Russia, confident enough in their solidity to commit more bodies forward in search of a winning goal in front of over 60,000 spectators.
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