As it happened: Morocco 0 Iran 1

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Updated 15 June 2018
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As it happened: Morocco 0 Iran 1

  • Bouhaddouzat scores an own goal to seal a late win for Iran
  • Morocco dominate possession but have nothing to show for it

REACTION: BBC Sport's Chris Sutton: "Iran are celebrating like they have won the World Cup. They defended deep and they were dogged and determined. They probably didn't deserve to win but who cares. Morocco just didn't do enough and they ran out of ideas after a superb first 20 minutes."

REACTION: ITV Sport's Slaven Bilic: "Morocco didn't deserve to lose ... but credit to Carlos Quieroz."

FULL-TIME: And that's it. Just like Egypt earlier in the day, there is heartbreak for Morocco late on. It's not been a good couple of days for the Arab Nations.

7.55pm: GOAL! Late, late drama here as Bouhaddouzat, the Moroccan substitute, heads into his own net from a free-kick in the fourth minute of added time. Iran are on course for their first World Cup win since 1998.

7.51pm: There will be six minutes of additional time here but I think most people have already seen enough. The mind is already wondering to tonight's mouthwatering game between Spain and Portugal. 

7.46pm: Although a draw is never a bad result, both teams have Spain and Portugal to come so their chances of finishing runners-up recede with events here.

7.44pm: ITV pundit Iain Dowie: "Morocco have been very disappointing in the second half, particularly creatively. They have looked flat and tired and not as full of beans as they were in the first half."

7.32pm: Youssef En-Nesyri scored in the recent friendly win over Estonia, so Hervé Renard may look to him to come off the bench and grab a winner for Morocco.

7.28pm: ITV Sport's Iain Dowie: "If I was the Morocco coach I'd look to freshen it up a bit."

7.27pm: BBC pundit Chris Sutton: "Both teams are cancelling each other out. Iran, to their credit, are defending as they have been and Azmoun is feeding off scraps. That chance in the first half will still be going through his mind."

7.23pm: There have been plenty of meaty challenges in this game, with 25 fouls so far. Referee Cüneyt Çakir has been a busy man.

7.17pm

Morocco's Mbark Boussoufa in action with Iran's Ramin Rezaeian.

7.13pm: "Half-time came at a good time for Morocco," said BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton. "It gave them the chance to regroup for the second period and ensure they are more patient in the final third."

7.05pm: And we're back underway in St.Petersburg. Can the deadlock be broken?

6.56pm: Former Croatian coach Slaven Bilic. "I love Morocco and every player is positive, but their centre-forward is isolated. They are nice to watch but no penetrative enough."

6.55pm: "Early on Morocco were really impressive ... but they've only had half chances," said ITV's Ryan Giggs. "Iran have had the best chance of the game."

6.54pm:  The stats confirm that Morocco have been on top. They've enjoyed 69 percent of the possesion but both teams have had nine shots on goal and two on target. 

6.50pm: It's half-time at the Krestovsky Stadium and it's goalless between Morocco and Iran. The scoreline should not come as any great surprise as these two conceded just two goals combined in 16 qualifying matches.

6.45pm: Reaction to that big chance from BBC Sport's Chris Sutton: "The golden boy Azmoun fluffs his lines when he should have scored. Big opportunity wasted."

6.44pm: That's the big chance of the match right there. Iran's Sardar Azmoun charges towards the Morocco goal and with just the keeper to beat. he shoots straight at the legs of Munir Mohamedi. It was a good save by the Numancia keeper but Azmoun should really have scored.

6.34pm

6.31pm: There is certainly no easing into the first game for either side here. They are both going at it full throttle.

6.30pm: A sign of how dominant Morocco are is demonstrated by the fact that Morocco's Medhi Benatia has enjoyed 25 touches more than Iran's Omid Ebrahimi.

6.27pm: Morocco are well on top here, enjoying 67 percent of the possession. Although Saudi Arabia showed last night that possession counts for very little, Morocco look much more penetrative than the Green Falcons.

6.26pm: Morocco have not just turned over minnows in their 18-match unbeaten run. They've toppled Serbia, Nigeria, South Korea, Ivory Coast and Egypt, so Iran should prove much more straight-forward opposition.

6.19pm: Morocco must have some serious attacking talent if they are able to leave Sofian Boufal out of their 23-man squad. 

6.14pm: Iran captain Masoud Shojaei is the first man to be cautioned for a late tackle in midfield. "That's quite a cynical one," says ITV pundit Iain Dowie.

6.11pm: Iran warmed up for this game with a largely uninspiring 1-0 win over Lithuania and they've started quite tenatively here.

6.07pm: Morocco have started with an intent and purpose here in what is their first World Cup game since 1998.

6.04pm: We're not expecting many goals here as Iran kept 12 straight clean sheets in qualifying and Morocco six.

6.01pm: Carlos Queiroz has qualified for a World Cup with three countries — South Africa (2002), Portugal (2010) and Iran (2014 and 2018).

6pm: KICK-OFF: And we're underway. 

5.59pm: BBC Sport's Chris Sutton: "It is colorful in the stadium. At one end you have got the deep red of Morocco and at the other is the green, white and red of Iran. These are sides that have underachieved at the World Cup but they will see today as an opportunity. Both sides have qualified for the finals on solid defences but this game is an opportunity to lay down a marker and put pressure on Portugal and Spain."

5.57pm: Iran are unbeaten in competitive matches since the last World Cup, so it's no wonder their fans are in fine voice.

5.56pm: This is the fifth time the Atlas Lions have made it to the World Cup, their best performance coming in 1986 when they got out of a group including England, Portugal and Poland to make it to the second round.

5.36pm: Morocco fans are cranking up the noise in the St. Petersburg Stadium

5.30pm: Up front for Morocco is Ayoub El-Kaabi, who only made his international debut in March but has forced his way into Herve Renard's starting lineup.
Morocco: Achraf Hakimi, Mehdi Benatia, Romain Saiss, Hakim Ziyech, Karim El Ahmadi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Younes Belhanda, Monir El Kajoui, Mbark Boussoufa, Noureddine Amrabat, Amine Harit

5.29pm: Iran start with Sardar Azmoun in place of injured striker Mehdi Taremi for the opening Group B match against Morocco in St. Petersburg.
Iran: Ali Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajisafi, Roozbeh Cheshmi, Masoud Shojaei, Morteza Pouraliganji, Omid Ebrahimi, Karim Ansarifard, Vahid Amiri, Alieza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun, Ramin Rezaeian.

5.25pm

5.18pm: Authorities in Tehran cancelled plans to allow families to watch Iran's World Cup football opener against Morocco on Friday in the stadium and public parks of the Islamic republic's capital. The Islamic republic is thought to be the only country in the world that refuses to allow fans to gather in open public spaces for the World Cup, possibly due to opposition to the idea of men and women watching together.

5.17pm: Morocco were without a World Cup appearance in nearly 20 years and in the doldrums when Herve Renard turned up. But since he took his place in the dugout in early 2016 the fortunes of the Atlas Lions have taken a turn for the better. The Frenchman made the side more solid, and very tough to beat, as their current run of 18 games unbeaten illustrates. That run includes matches against fellow World Cup hopefuls Serbia, Nigeria, South Korea and Egypt. Only Belgium (19) and Spain (20) have a better record going into the tournament.

So that's defeat for Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the first two games of the World Cup. Now it is down to Morocco to restore some pride for the Arab world. They face Iran in Group B at the Krestovsky Stadium in St. Petersburg and come into the game full of confidence as they are unbeaten in their last 18 matches. Let's see how they get on.


Nadal gets even with De Minaur at Madrid Open but still doubts his body can hold up at French Open

Updated 28 April 2024
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Nadal gets even with De Minaur at Madrid Open but still doubts his body can hold up at French Open

  • Nadal is no longer aiming to add to his 92 career titles after being decimated by injuries in recent years
  • Top-seeded Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek brushed aside their first opponents

MADRID: Rafael Nadal tore his headband off, thrust his arms in the air, and soaked up the cheers. It was only a second-round win, but coming from where Nadal had been just a few weeks ago when he couldn’t even get on the court, he could have been savoring a trophy.

He had just beaten 11th-ranked Alex de Minaur 7-6 (6), 6-3 at the Madrid Open on Saturday, avenging a straight-set loss to the Australian less than two weeks ago.

Nadal is no longer aiming to add to his 92 career titles after being decimated by injuries in recent years. The 37-year-old just wants to play like Rafael Nadal, or as close to that as he can. So he is going forward game by game, measuring his efforts to avoid an injury that would likely force his definitive retirement, with the ultimate goal of being competitive one more time at next month’s French Open.

“I have been through some very difficult months when there were moments when I didn’t see the reason to continue, but I had the dream of experiencing feelings like this again and above all at home,” Nadal said. “It was incredible.”

The 22-time Grand Slam champion was cheered on by Spanish King Felipe VI, soccer great Zinedine Zidane and a raucous crowd that packed the Caja Magica to see what will most likely be the tennis great’s last tournament in Spain.

Nadal was playing just his fourth competitive match since his latest injury layoff in his farewell season.

De Minaur beat Nadal just 11 days before in Barcelona, where the Spaniard returned to the courts for the first time in more than three months. Nadal looked much better this time around.

But Nadal said being ready to play at Roland Garros, with its more demanding five-set format, is another matter, especially given the importance he has for the tournament he has won 14 times.

“Roland Garros is the most important tournament of my tennis career, and all the things that I lived there, enjoyed there, stay in my heart forever,” he said.

“So if I am not able to go on court and dream, even if it’s the minimum, minimum percentage, (then) for me doesn’t make sense to go on court. I’d prefer to stay with all the amazing memories that I have. I want to be there, and even losing, but, you know, to go on court with the chance to dream about something important.”

Nadal got a straight-set win over American teenager Darwin Blanch on Thursday, but De Minaur was much stiffer competition and the tension in the stands of Manolo Santana Stadium was palpable.

The first set saw both players break serve twice. De Minaur then saved four set points before Nadal finished him off in the tiebreak to take the lead. Nadal pressed his advantage, broke De Minaur’s first service game of the second set and closed out the victory.

“I’m super happy to be able to be competitive against a great player like Alex, play over two hours,” Nadal said after his first win over a top-20 opponent since 2022. “It means a lot to me and the atmosphere here is just a joke, so I can’t thank enough everybody here.”

Nothing less than sports royalty in his Spain, Nadal grunted out his first “Vamos!” (Let’s go!), more to himself than his staff or fans, after winning his first point. He pumped his fists after landing his hammer of a left-hand drive; he argued heatedly with the chair judge over whether or not he challenged a line call on time; he shook his head when he hit long, chiding himself for not adjusting to Madrid’s high altitude.

And the crowd ate it up, shouting “Viva Rafa!” between points and “Ole! Ole! Ole!” after his backhand winner set up match point. De Minaur double-faulted to do himself in.

Nadal has won a record five times in Madrid, the last time in 2017.

Next up will he face Pedro Cachin in the third round after the Argentine beat Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (1), 3-6, 6-4.

TOP SEEDS ADVANCE

Top-seeded Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek brushed aside their first opponents.

Sinner downed fellow Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-0, 6-3 in the second round to improve to 5-0 against his countryman.

Third-seeded Daniil Medvedev rallied past Matteo Arnaldi 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, while fifth-seeded Casper Ruud beat Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 6-1.

The seventh-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas was upset 6-4, 6-4 by Brazilian qualifier Thiago Monteiro, ranked 118th. Tsitsipas won Monte Carlo this month before reaching the final of Barcelona last week.

Grigor Dimitrov, seeded ninth, lost to Jakub Mensik 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-3, while Felix Auger-Aliassime, Sebastian Korda, Ben Shelton, and Alexander Bublik were among players who won.

Swiatek made quick work of Sorana Cirstea 6-1, 6-1 to reach the women’s last 16.

The top-ranked Swiatek, who lost last year’s final to Aryna Sabalenka, improved her record this season to 26-4. She will next face Sara Sorribes Tormo on Monday after the Spaniard ousted Victoria Azarenka 7-6 (0), 6-3.

Coco Gauff, seeded third, downed Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-1 and will next face Madison Keys.

The 2022 winner Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari, Jelena Ostapenko — all top-10 players — also advanced.


Interest in hosting Olympics ‘never so high,’ says IOC boss

Updated 28 April 2024
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Interest in hosting Olympics ‘never so high,’ says IOC boss

  • After a string of Games in Western democracies, 2036 could be an opportunity for Saudi Arabia, sole candidate for the 2032 FIFA World Cup; Qatar, a losing candidate for 2032; Indonesia, or India
  • Bach attributes the revival of interest in hosting the Olympics to reforms undertaken on his watch

LAUSANNE: Despite threats from climate change, AI-enhanced doping or competition from e-sports, the boss of the International Olympic Committee believes the future has never looked so bright for his sports movement.

Thomas Bach, a 70-year-old German fencer, has run the Switzerland-based guardian of the Olympic Games since 2013 when interest in hosting the event was near rock-bottom after repeated scandals over costs and corruption.

Its diminished appeal was clear at the time of bidding for the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics when there were only two candidates, Paris and Los Angeles, who divided the honors between themselves.

Since then, the 2032 Games have been awarded to Brisbane, Australia, and Bach told AFP in an interview at IOC headquarters on Friday that there were “double-digit” numbers of countries in the running for 2036.

“We have never been in such a favorable position. We have never seen such a high interest in hosting the Olympic Games,” he said on Friday from his offices that overlook Lake Geneva.

After a string of Games in Western democracies, 2036 could be an opportunity for Saudi Arabia, sole candidate for the 2032 FIFA World Cup; Qatar, a losing candidate for 2032; Indonesia, or India.

“We are now 12 years away from these Games, so it is way too early to comment on any of these interests,” Bach replied when asked about Saudi Arabia and Qatar.

Bach attributes the revival of interest in hosting the Olympics to reforms undertaken on his watch, which have sought to put an end to the wasteful spending that has near-bankrupted several host cities in the past.

Instead of oversized and gleaming new stadiums and facilities that often fall empty afterwards, the IOC now encourages the use of existing or temporary infrastructure.

An estimated 96 percent of the sport during Paris 2024, which begins on July 26, will take place in existing or temporary locations, while LA 2028 might reach 100 percent.

“Paris is the first Olympic Games which is absolutely in line with our Olympic agenda reforms from start to finish,” Bach added.

As a result, French organizers claim that their event will be responsible for around half the carbon emissions of previous editions in London 2012 and Rio in 2016.

Critics, such as environmental research group Carbon Market Watch, commend the efforts to improve, but remain skeptical that the Games can ever be sustainable.

“The most significant factor affecting the games’ environmental footprint is its enormity,” a report from the group stated in mid-April.


Last-gasp goal stretches Leverkusen unbeaten streak

Updated 27 April 2024
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Last-gasp goal stretches Leverkusen unbeaten streak

  • The strike keeps Leverkusen’s remarkable streak of late goals alive
  • Alonso’s side have now won or equalized in stoppage time 10 times this season in all competitions

LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Robert Andrich scored with the last kick of the match to extend Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten run to 46 games this season with a 2-2 home draw against Stuttgart on Saturday.
With Bundesliga champions Leverkusen facing their first loss of the season in any competition trailing 2-1 late in stoppage time, Andrich hammered in a loose ball to equalize in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
The strike keeps Leverkusen’s remarkable streak of late goals alive, with Xabi Alonso’s side doing the same at Borussia Dortmund in the seventh minute of injury time for a 1-1 draw last week.
Two goals in the space of nine minutes to start the second half from Chris Fuehrich and Deniz Undav put Stuttgart on course, with Amine Adli pulling one back after 61 minutes.
Leverkusen built pressure but could not break through, putting their hopes of becoming the first team to go a full Bundesliga season without defeat in doubt.
However, with time running out, they won a free kick and Florian Wirtz curled the ball into the box, Andrich snapping up a rebound to score.
Alonso’s side have now won or equalized in stoppage time 10 times this season in all competitions.


Fraser-McGurk shines as Delhi down Mumbai in IPL, Rajasthan near play-offs

Updated 27 April 2024
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Fraser-McGurk shines as Delhi down Mumbai in IPL, Rajasthan near play-offs

  • Top four teams in the IPL table will qualify for the play-offs

NEW DELHI: Australia’s Jake Fraser-McGurk smashed 84 off 27 deliveries to fire Delhi Capitals to 257-4 and a 10-run win over Mumbai Indians in another IPL high-scorer on Saturday.
In the second match of the day, skipper Sanju Samson hit an unbeaten 71 as Rajasthan Royals all but confirmed their play-off spot with a seven-wicket hammering of Lucknow Super Giants.
Delhi, at their home Arun Jaitley Stadium, posted their best-ever total in the T20 tournament, a day after Punjab Kings chased down a record target of 262.
Delhi’s previous best was 231-4 in 2011 against Punjab Kings. This edition Sunrisers Hyderabad have twice smashed IPL records with totals of 277 and 287.
Bowlers kept five-time champions Mumbai down to 247-9 despite a valiant 32-ball 63 by Tilak Varma as Delhi boosted their play-off hopes with five wins in 10 matches.
Fraser-McGurk, a 22-year-old Australian batsman who has taken his IPL debut season by storm with three half-centuries in five matches, started with two fours and a six off England pace bowler Luke Wood in a 19-run first over.
“That’s my role, go out there and score as many as I can and get the team off to a nice start,” Fraser-McGurk, who has a strike-rate of 237.50, said after his blitz.
The Australian kept up the charge to reach his fifty in 15 balls with a hit over the fence and put on 114 runs with opening partner Abishek Porel, who hit 36.
Leg-spinner Piyush Chawla finally denied Fraser-McGurk, who went unsold in the auction before Delhi signed him as injury replacement, his century.
There was no stopping Delhi as Shai Hope hit a 17-ball 41, skipper Rishabh Pant made 29 off 19 deliveries and Tristan Stubbs smashed an unbeaten 48 to pummel the opposition attack.
Mumbai, who have endured a tough season after Hardik Pandya replaced veteran Rohit Sharma as captain and has been booed across a number of venues, lost regular wickets.
Pandya hit 46 off 16 balls but it was a 70-run partnership between Varma and Tim David, who hit 37 off 17 balls that raised Mumbai’s hopes, but Delhi kept calm.
David fell lbw to Mukesh Kumar after a four and a six and Varma was run out at the start of the final over as Mumbai remained ninth.
Kumar and fellow medium-pace bowler and impact substitute Rasikh Salam took three wickets each.
In the evening match in Lucknow, the hosts posted 196-5 courtesy a 76 by skipper KL Rahul and his 115 run stand with Deepak Hooda, who made 50.
Lucknow lost two early wickets after New Zealand’s left-arm quick Trent Boult bowled Quinton de Kock for eight and Sandeep Sharma bowled Marcus Stoinis for a duck.
Rahul and Hooda steadied the innings and then hit back but the effort was not enough as Dhruv Jurel, who hit 52, and Samson steered table-toppers Rajasthan home with one over to spare for their eighth win in nine matches.
Top four teams will qualify for the play-offs.


Kane hits double in Bayern win as Leipzig tighten grip on fourth

Updated 27 April 2024
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Kane hits double in Bayern win as Leipzig tighten grip on fourth

  • Kane scored in each half, finishing off a tearing Konrad Laimer run and converting a penalty, to raise his league tally to 35 goals in 31 games
  • Kane is now six goals shy of Robert Lewandowski’s all-time single-season Bundesliga goals record

LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Harry Kane scored twice in Bayern Munich’s 2-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Saturday to set a new personal record for goals in a season as RB Leipzig tightened their grip on fourth spot with a home victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Kane scored in each half, finishing off a tearing Konrad Laimer run and converting a penalty, to raise his league tally to 35 goals in 31 games.
Kane is now six goals shy of Robert Lewandowski’s all-time single-season Bundesliga goals record and has hit a personal best of 42 goals in all competitions this campaign.
The England captain’s goals came either side of a Hugo Ekitike stunner, a day after the Frenchman became a permanent Frankfurt player.
Bayern veteran Thomas Mueller said his side was “in a good flow,” saying since getting past Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals “we’ve been getting better, we’ve got a grip on things.”
Before the match, Bayern coach Thomas Tuchel hit back at claims from the club’s honorary president Uli Hoeness that the manager wanted to buy rather than develop players, saying the “absolutely baseless” allegation “could not be further from reality.”
Despite the victory, which solidified Bayern’s chances of a second-placed finish, both Laimer and defender Matthijs de Ligt were subbed off with injury just days before Tuesday’s home Champions League semifinal against Real Madrid.
Dortmund, Germany’s other Champions League semifinalist, had a setback ahead of hosting Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, being thoroughly outclassed in a 4-1 defeat at Leipzig.
The undermanned visitors, missing captain Emre Can, Donyell Malen, Ian Maatsen and Sebastien Haller, dominated early, hitting the lead after 20 minutes through Jadon Sancho.
The England winger curled an excellent shot from the edge of the box into the top right corner to give Dortmund the lead.
Jolted to life, Leipzig equalized almost immediately, Lois Openda turning in a superb Xavi Simons cross for his 24th goal of the season.
Originally called offside, the goal was awarded after a VAR review and the video referee intervened again shortly after, overturning a penalty for Leipzig.
Leipzig then scored two quick-fire goals either side of half-time. Benjamin Sesko pounced on a rebound just before the break and Openda found Mohamed Simakan early in the second.
Christoph Baumgartner added a fourth with 10 minutes remaining to send Leipzig five points clear of Dortmund in fourth, the final guaranteed Champions League spot.
Dortmund goalie Gregor Kobel said “like so often this season, we gifted the opponent too many goals.”
With three teams in the semifinals of the top two European competitions, Germany may however snare a fifth Champions League spot.
Werder Bremen guaranteed first division football next season, winning 3-0 away at Augsburg to go 10 points clear of the drop with three games to play.
Goals from Romano Schmid and Olivier Deman and a Marvin Ducksch penalty took Bremen to a second-straight win for the first time since February.
Wolfsburg also took a major step toward securing top-flight football, scoring two goals in the final minutes to come from behind and beat a 10-man Freiburg 2-1.
In Saturday’s late game, Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen will try and keep their unbeaten record alive this season when they host third-placed Stuttgart.
No team in Bundesliga history has ever gone through a season unbeaten.