Iran go top of group with battling draw vs frustrated 10-man Belgium

Iran battled to a well-deserved point against 10-man Belgium and moved top of World Cup Group G with a 0-0 draw in Los Angeles.

Iran are up against many off-field challenges at this World Cup due to the conflict in the Middle East, with travel restrictions and visa issues impacting their preparations for matches. But, on the pitch, they look like a team galvanised.

This point, added to their 2-2 draw with New Zealand, has them ahead on goals scored of a Belgian side that has also drawn their first two fixtures. New Zealand face Egypt overnight - but Iran's hopes of making the knockout stages are very much alive.

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They showed their spirit through a committed display against Belgium, repeatedly blocking shots from their more-fancied opponents and inspired by a brilliant save from floored goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand when Maxim De Cuyper looked certain to score from close range.

But Iran also carried a threat of their own, with Thibaut Courtois twice forced into excellent saves and Mehdi Taremi's goal from a well-worked free-kick ruled out by a VAR offside check.

Their ambitions increased when Nathan Ngoy saw red for bringing down Taremi after he had fluffed a back pass, but there was no winner for either side.

That was deeply frustrating for Belgium, who had 23 shots and posted an xG of 1.8. But Belgium were lacking sharpness in the final third, with Romelu Lukaku particularly off form and Jeremy Doku unavailable due to illness - and Iran took advantage to earn a draw.

The key moments from California...

14: SAVE! Brilliant stop from Courtois to deny Hossein Kanani against the run of play.

22: SAVE! Beiranvand is sharp to keep out a powerful Youri Tielemans strike.

25: GOAL RULED OUT! Taremi converts a clever free-kick - but VAR spots he was offside.

36: OVER! Tielemans crosses from the left but Lukaku skies a good headed chance.

44: SAVE! De Cuyper meets a delicious Tielemans chipped pass but Beiranvand keeps out his volley.

49: SIDE-NETTING! Alexis Saelemaekers volleys a deep Kevin De Bruyne corner the wrong side of the back post.

53: SAVE! Courtois is alert again to react quickly and save a Taremi volley.

59: GREAT SAVE! Beiranvand is on the floor but somehow stops De Cuyper blasting in at close range.

66: RED CARD! Ngoy miskicks his pass back and then brings down Taremi, denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.

What the result means...

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