Iran held Portugal 1-1 in their final Group B match on Monday but couldn’t stop Cristiano Ronaldo’s men from entering the FIFA World Cup 2018 last 16. Iran coach Carlos Queiroz said Cristiano Ronaldo was fortunate to escape a red card despite a VAR review following an elbow in a the draw match. Portugal will face Uruguay in the last 16 after advancing as runners-up of Group B, but Queiroz insisted Ronaldo deserved to be sent off for catching Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji with an elbow to the face.
Portugal defender Cedric was then penalised in stoppage time for a handball, and Karim Ansarifard converted from the spot to give Iran a lifeline. Mehdi Taremi nearly snatched a dramatic winner after a deflected shot rolled into his path, but he fired into the side netting as Iran were eliminated in agonising fashion. Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure after failing to add to his four-goal tally at the Mordovia Arena, suffering the same penalty misfortune as Lionel Messi earlier in the competition.