Iran 1-1 Portugal: Ronaldo misses penalty and survives red card

Send the pretend referees home and bin the replays – VAR is not fit for purpose. Thanks to the latest dodgy decision, Iran almost pulled off a fairytale. 

The reality, however, is that had they progressed football, along with Portugal, would have been the losers on a shambolic night which brought embarrassment to this wonderful World Cup.

With an already-ruined, stop-start tussle entering injury time Portugal, for whom Cristiano Ronaldo had missed a penalty, appeared to have secured progression and top spot thanks to Ricardo Quaresma’s first-half wonder strike. 

Portugal made their breakthrough at the end of the half against Iran with a superb strike by Ricardo Quaresma

Quaresma celebrates his strike with Cristiano Ronaldo - the first Portugal goal not scored by the Real Madrid star in Russia

Quaresma celebrates his strike with Cristiano Ronaldo – the first Portugal goal not scored by the Real Madrid star in Russia

Ronaldo was brought down inside the area in the second half, however his strike was brilliantly saved by Ali Beiranvand

Ronaldo was brought down inside the area in the second half, however his strike was brilliantly saved by Ali Beiranvand

Ronaldo was left with heart in mouth after this clash with Morteza Pouraliganji was referred to the VAR for a possible red card

Ronaldo was left with heart in mouth after this clash with Morteza Pouraliganji was referred to the VAR for a possible red card

Portugal were rocked when the referee - via VAR - gave a controversial penalty for this handball by Cedric Soares

Portugal were rocked when the referee – via VAR – gave a controversial penalty for this handball by Cedric Soares

Karim Ansarifard tucked a late Iran spot kick into the top corner to leave Portugal nervous in the final few minutes

Karim Ansarifard tucked a late Iran spot kick into the top corner to leave Portugal nervous in the final few minutes

MATCH FACTS 

Iran: (4-5-1): Beiranvand 7, Rezaeian 6, Hosseini 6, Pouraliganji 6.5, Hajsafi 6 (Mohammadi 56, 6); Taremi 6, Jahanbakhsh 6 (Ghoddos 70, 6), Ezatolahi 5.5 (Ansarifard 76, 6.5), Ebrahimi 6, Amiri 6; Azmoun 6 

Unused subs: Torabi, Shojaei, Mazaheri, Khanzadeh, Montazeri, Ghoochannejhad, Dejagah, Abedzadeh 

Manager: Carlos Queiroz 7 

Goal: Ansarifard pen 90+3

Bookings: Haji Safi 52, Azmoun 54

Portugal (4-4-2): Patrício 6, Cedric 6.5, Fonte 6.5, Pepe 6.5 Guerreiro 6.5; Quaresma 7 (Silva 70, 6), Carvalho 7, Adrien Silva 6.5, Mário 6.5 (Moutinho 84);, Silva 6.5 (Guedes 90+5), Ronaldo 6.5

Unused subs: Alves, Fernandes, Lopes, Dias, Pereira, Fernandes, Martins, Rui, Beto

Manager: Fernando Santos 7 

Goal: Quaresma 45 

Bookings: Guerreiro 33, Quaresma 64, Ronaldo 83, Cedric 90+3

Referee: Enrique Caceres 2

Then, following yet another woeful VAR intervention, Iran were handed a ludicrous penalty when Southampton’s Cedric Soares was deemed to have handled the ball in the area.   

Soares was not even half a yard away from Sardar Azmoun when the Iranian’s knock down struck his arm, which was not raised. Nobody appealed. Strangely, Paraguayan referee Enrique Cáceres went for a touchline confab.

Unbelievably, he then put a square in the air and pointed to the spot. Sub Karim Ansarifard duly put it into the top corner and there was, ridiculously, hope for the Iranians – and they almost had their dream when a deflected shot found Mehdi Taremi around eight yards out.

The midfielder’s shot struck the side-netting. Had it gone in they would have been through.

Perhaps Caceres and his pals in the booth breathed a sigh of relief. This was the clearest evidence yet that, in its current format VAR is more trouble than it is worth. Decisions like that simply cannot be good for the game. Slow motion, as we have so often seen in other sports, often distorts reality. Alan Shearer summed it up well.

Farcical, absolutely shambolic,’ he told BBC One viewers. ‘The referee is a very lucky guy. If Iran scored in the last minute there would be chaos. How can he think it’s a penalty and deliberate handball then he’s crazy.’

The Newcastle legend, never one to stand up for defenders, continued: ‘Every time it hits a hand it’s a pen? How can he think that? That was my fear that you’re going to get game like this then it’s an absolute farce.’

Shearer was not wrong. Put simply, VAR turned what should have been a spectacle into a laughing stock. Not that both sets of players covered themselves in glory.

In England, Eastenders followed the match. Viewers who watched both will have seen more acting in the scenes beamed back from Russia than from Albert Square. 

Quaresma struck with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area, curling the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner

Quaresma struck with the outside of his boot from the edge of the area, curling the ball past the goalkeeper into the corner

Iran's Alireza Beiranvand was left utterly helpless as Quaresma's magnificent effort put Portugal 1-0 up in Saransk

Iran’s Alireza Beiranvand was left utterly helpless as Quaresma’s magnificent effort put Portugal 1-0 up in Saransk

Quaresma celebrates scoring a goal that put the European champions in a prime position to qualify from Group B

Quaresma celebrates scoring a goal that put the European champions in a prime position to qualify from Group B

Portugal were awarded a penalty after half time, with a VAR review coming minutes after Ronaldo was brought down

Portugal were awarded a penalty after half time, with a VAR review coming minutes after Ronaldo was brought down

Ronaldo appeals for the spot kick, but it was a few minutes before referee Enrique Caceres gave the spot kick

Ronaldo appeals for the spot kick, but it was a few minutes before referee Enrique Caceres gave the spot kick

Caceres consulted VAR before overturning his original call, much to the disgust of the Iranian players

Caceres consulted VAR before overturning his original call, much to the disgust of the Iranian players

Ronaldo stepped up to eventually take the penalty he had won, however his powerfully struck kick was well saved

Ronaldo stepped up to eventually take the penalty he had won, however his powerfully struck kick was well saved

Beiranvand initially spilled the penalty, but was able to gather at the second attempt to keep Iranian hopes alive

Beiranvand initially spilled the penalty, but was able to gather at the second attempt to keep Iranian hopes alive

Time and time again players collapsed to the turf clutching their faces from phantom assaults. You even ended up having sympathy for Ronaldo, who was given a dodgy yellow card following another dubious consultation after his arm delicately brushed the chin of Iran defender Morteza Pouraliganji.

What of the actual football? Portugal were the better side and had the lead on the stroke of half-time when, on his first World Cup start at the age of 34, Quaresma produced a display of the undoubted talent he has perhaps not made the most of in a career that has taken him to Barcelona, Inter Milan and – fleetingly – Chelsea.

Following a slick one-two with Adrien Silva, he cut in from the right before dinking a delicious curling, dipping effort into the far corner with the outside of his right boot.

Following the break it looked as though Ronaldo’s moment, thanks to another questionable VAR decision, had arrived. Initially, Caceres waved play on after the former United man tangled with Iran Saeid Ezatolahi just inside the area. But an age later the decision was reversed. Crazy, although worse was to come.

When it comes to penalties, however, Ronaldo is not Harry Kane and his low effort to the right was easily saved by a previously-nervous Ali Beiranvand. It meant Ronaldo remained on four goals in the race for the Golden Boot, and Kane’s one-goal lead is kept intact.

The Tottenham man may well be happy in the knowledge he remains in pole position. Following the injury-time madness he will have been one of few left with a smile on his face after a dark night for football. This cannot carry on.

After examining the Ronaldo incident on the screen, Caceres chose to only give a yellow card, to the relief of Portugal

After examining the Ronaldo incident on the screen, Caceres chose to only give a yellow card, to the relief of Portugal

Ansarifard races away after scoring the controversial late penalty, which came after a harsh handball decision

Ansarifard races away after scoring the controversial late penalty, which came after a harsh handball decision

Joao Mario reacts after firing a glorious early opportunity for Portugal over the crossbar in their clash with Iran

Joao Mario reacts after firing a glorious early opportunity for Portugal over the crossbar in their clash with Iran

Saeid Ezatolahi of Iran collides with goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand as they make a mess of clearing a Portugal cross

Saeid Ezatolahi of Iran collides with goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand as they make a mess of clearing a Portugal cross

Ezatolahi clashed with Beiranvand after the mix-up, with the goalkeeper claiming he has called early to claim the cross

Ezatolahi clashed with Beiranvand after the mix-up, with the goalkeeper claiming he has called early to claim the cross

Ezatolahi came closest to scoring in the first half for Iran, but he could only head his effort straight at Rui Patricio

Ezatolahi came closest to scoring in the first half for Iran, but he could only head his effort straight at Rui Patricio

Cristiano Ronaldo - shorts at the ready - lines up a first half free kick, which could only strike the top of the Iranian wall

Cristiano Ronaldo – shorts at the ready – lines up a first half free kick, which could only strike the top of the Iranian wall

Ronaldo also tried his luck from 40 yards during a tense first 45 minutes, but it was easy for the Iran goalkeeper

Ronaldo also tried his luck from 40 yards during a tense first 45 minutes, but it was easy for the Iran goalkeeper

Ronaldo and Beiranvand vie for the ball as Portugal sought to keep Iran at bay and avoid defeat to reach the last 16

Ronaldo and Beiranvand vie for the ball as Portugal sought to keep Iran at bay and avoid defeat to reach the last 16

At the other end, Patricio got a clattering when Iran forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh caught his head in the second half

At the other end, Patricio got a clattering when Iran forward Alireza Jahanbakhsh caught his head in the second half

Patricio receives medical attention after the collision, however the new Wolves No 1 was able to continue playing

Patricio receives medical attention after the collision, however the new Wolves No 1 was able to continue playing

Iran's forward Mehdi Taremi nearly won the game in the dying seconds, however his one-on-one shot hit the side netting

Iran’s forward Mehdi Taremi nearly won the game in the dying seconds, however his one-on-one shot hit the side netting



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk