In the end the ...

In the end the US side left themselves with too much to do to save their hopes of progress in the World Cup.

They were eliminated by this defeat in Lyons but came close to victory against an Iran side who always carried a potent threat in attack. Brian McBride scored with three minutes of normal time remaining. His diving header in a crowded area reched the goal where Saadavi was unable to prevent ball going over the line. It provided an anxious climax to the game for the Iranians who could have gone three up a minute before the goal for the US. On a break Ali Daei saw his shot saved by Kasey Keller and his strike from the rebound cleared off the line by Dave Regis. Mahdavikia had seemed to seal the win in the 83rd minute when he ran from inside his own half to a loose ball which he carried up to the area before striking the shot into the far corner. Keller reached the shot with his fingers but could not prevent the ball going into the net.

It was the first goal that changed the game though. After good possession for either side had seen few chances created, Zarrincheh did what the US players could not manage all night. He struck an excellent cross into the penalty area and Estili was unmarked as he jumped to head beyond Keller into the far corner of the net. Earlier the US had hit the bar with a header from McBride and the post with a volley from Reyna but the goal advantage gave the Iranians something to hold onto. In the end the US left themselves exposed at the back in chasing for an equaliser and that was how their World Cup dream was killed. With several ageing players in the side, their hopes of advancing in the greatest show on earth were snuffed out as well.

While Iran played well and carried much of the threat on the break these were two evenly matched sides in many ways. The US struck three shots against the frame of the goal, Regis hitting the post on 73 minutes, while Iran could always rely on star performances from Bagheri and Mahdavikia to ease the strain on their defence and prevent the resistance from breaking.