Worst VAR decision of World Cup 2018 awards Iran late penalty but Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo survive

Portugal progressed to the World Cup knockout stage after drawing with Iran in a game full of VAR controversy.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty for Portugal and was shown a yellow card after a lengthy VAR review for a possible red card.

Iran scored a late penalty, given after another video review, and almost snatched a winner in stoppage time which would have seen them not only go through at Portugal’s expense but also top the group, with Spain held to a 2-2 draw by Morocco.

Ricardo Quaresma had put Portugal in front with a sensational goal at the end of the first half.

The late Iran penalty denied the European champions top spot in the group and means they play Uruguay in Sochi in the last 16 on Saturday, rather than Group A runners-up Russia.

VAR has been a major talking point in the 2018 World Cup but the final matches in Group B provided its most controversial night so far.

The controversy began with the award of Portugal’s penalty, which was saved by Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand, diving to his left to deny Ronaldo.

The Real Madrid striker had gone down under the challenge of Iran’s Saeid Ezatolahi and, after originally waving away appeals, Enrique Caceres rightly reversed his decision and awarded the spot-kick after checking VAR.

The game became heated after that decision, with both sides asking for further reviews, but its next use again involved Ronaldo.

Attempting to get in front of Morteza Pouraliganji, Ronaldo caught the Iranian in the face with a flailing arm.

After a lengthy stoppage while he watched replays on the VAR pitchside TV monitor, the referee deemed it worthy only of a yellow card.

But perhaps the most controversial decision came in second-half stoppage time and resulted in Iran’s penalty.

Iran played a deep cross towards Sardar Azmoun and from close range his knockdown hit the outstretched arm of Portugal defender Cedric Soares, who was jumping to head the ball.

Again the referee took his time in making a decision and once again changed his original call, ultimately choosing to award a penalty.

Portugal had been frustrated for 44 minutes in the first half by a well-organised Iran who also looked dangerous on the break.

But the game’s first goal came with a piece of magic from the boot of former Chelsea loanee Quaresma in the 45th minute.

The winger cut in from the right flank, played a one-two with a team-mate, then curled a right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area into the far top corner with the outside of his boot.

Play in the second half was repeatedly broken up by fouls, VAR incidents and strong protests in response to tackles from both sides.

Queiroz had to be spoken to by the referee both for encroaching on the pitch and for his complaints at the referee’s decisions.

Even after Karim Ansarifard had scored Iran’s controversial penalty, winger Mehdi Taremi could have won the game with a chance in the fourth minute of stoppage time, but he hit the side-netting with his effort from inside the penalty box.

Aside from his penalty miss, Ronaldo had few chances on goal, with his best effort a shot straight at the goalkeeper in the third minute.

The blank means he remains on four goals for the tournament, one behind England striker Harry Kane, who leads the race for the Golden Boot.

Ronaldo’s poor penalty record – the best stats

• Portugal have progressed from the group stage of the World Cup for the fourth time in their history (also 1966, 2006 and 2010).
• Iran have been eliminated from the group stage at the World Cup in all five tournaments they’ve competed in (1978, 1998, 2006, 2014 and 2018).
• Both of Iran’s goals at the 2018 World Cup were scored in injury time (94:06 against Morocco, 92:48 against Portugal).
• Quaresma (34y 272d) is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start since Yahya Golmohammadi (35y 84d), who did so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico.
• Iran are the second Asian nation in World Cup history to have won their first match at a World Cup but be eliminated at the group stage, after South Korea in 2006.
• Two of the three penalties Ronaldo has taken at World Cups for Portugal have been against Iran – he scored in 2006 but saw his effort saved in this game.
• Ronaldo has a 50% penalty success rate in major tournaments for Portugal, scoring two (against Iran and Spain at the World Cups in 2006 and 2018 respectively) but also failing with two (against Austria at Euro 2016 and Iran).
• Iran remain winless in eight World Cup matches against European opposition (D2 L6).
• Iran’s goal – scored after 92 minutes and 48 seconds – was the latest goal Portugal have ever conceded at the World Cup.
• Portugal have never lost a World Cup match when they’ve scored first (W13 D3). BBC Sport