Mandatory Credit: Photo by Neil Hall/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock (13642244ea) Christian Pulisic of the USA (C) gets assistance after colliding with goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand of Iran as he scored the 1-0 during the FIFA World Cup 2022 group B soccer match between Iran and the USA at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, 29 November 2022. FIFA World Cup 2022 – Group B Iran vs USA, Doha, Qatar – 29 Nov 2022

World Cup Tuesday Recap: The USA advances to the knockout stage for the fifth time in history with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Iran

Clovis Shropshire
November 29, 2022
0
24 minutes read

2022 World Cup Groups:

Group A: Qatar, Ecuador, Senegal, Netherlands
Group B: England, Iran, USA, Wales
Group C: Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, Poland
Group D: France, Australia, Denmark, Tunisia
Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan
Group F: Belgium, Canada, Morocco, Croatia
Group G: Brazil, Serbia, Switzerland, Cameroon
Group H: Portugal, Ghana, Uruguay, South Korea

Recapping the Tuesday action:

USA 1, IRAN 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (B): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 @ 1 p.m. CT
Where: Al Thumama Stadium (Doha, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: USA (No. 16) vs. Iran (No. 20)

The USA earned a convincing 1-0 victory over No. 20-ranked Iran to qualify for the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Christian Pulisic’s volley in the 38th minute gave the Americans an early 1-0 lead, putting the finishing touches on a dominant first-half performance. The USA managed to stave off Iran in the waning minutes of the first half despite an injured Pulisic hobbling on the sidelines after colliding with Iran’s goalkeeper on his goal. USA manager Gregg Berhalter chose not to remove Pulisic from the match, however, and Pulisic eventually worked his way onto the pitch despite dealing with pain from the collision. Pulisic was replaced at halftime by Brenden Aaronson. It was a must-win match for the Stars and Stripes on Tuesday, who needed all three points from an outright win to surpass Iran in the Group B standings and claim second place. The American side outlasted Iran with efficiency and sound defensive play late in the second half despite some credible Iranian counters for the tying goal. The USA tripled up Iran in total shots (12 to four) and dominated the final box score results in both shots on goal (five to one) and corner kick chances (five to one). The USA will now face the No. 8-ranked Netherlands in the Round of 16, with its knockout stage contest set for 9 a.m. CT this Saturday, Dec. 3, at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. The USA’s Round of 16 opponent holds the record for playing in the most World Cup finals without ever winning in the tournament. The Dutch have been close to glory in recent World Cup tournaments, however, finishing third in 2014 after losing on penalty kicks to Argentina in the semifinals and finishing second in 2010 after a 1-0 loss to Spain in the finals. The USA, on the other hand, has now advanced from group play in three straight World Cup appearances despite not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. The Americans lost to Belgium 2-1 in the Round of 16 in the 2014 World Cup and dropped a 2-1 decision to Ghana in the Round of 16 in 2014. The last time the USA made it to the quarterfinals was in 2002, when it defeated Mexico 2-0 in the Round of 16 and eventually lost to Germany 1-0 in the quarterfinals.

ENGLAND 3, WALES 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (B): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 @ 1 p.m. CT
Where: Ahmad bin Ali Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: England (No. 5) vs. Wales (No. 19)

England routed Wales 3-0 to clinch first place in the Group B standings on Tuesday at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Despite a middling first 45 minutes in which neither nation could find a way to score, the English opened the second half with a flurry of goals to squash any chances of a Welsh upset. Marcus Rashford of Machester United scored the first of his two goals in the 50th minute to give England a 1-0 advantage, and just one minute later, it was Phil Foden of Machester City who found the back of the net to make it 2-0. The No. 8-ranked English commanded possession throughout the Matchday 3 contest, holding the ball at a 65% clip while allowing just one shot on goal and one corner kick to Wales. The second-half barrage of goals was a welcome sign for England, especially coming from young rising talent in both Rashford (25 years old) and Foden (22 years old). Rashford registered his second goal in the 68th minute to extend the lead to three goals and give England a dominant edge in both total shots (18 to six) and shots on goal (seven to one). England also held a six-to-one advantage in corner kick opportunities over the No. 19-ranked Welsh and will now prepare for battle with a Round of 16 matchup against upstart Senegal at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 4 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. It will be the first-ever match between the Senegalese and the English. It will also be just the second-ever trip to the knockout round for Senegal, which defeated Sweden 2-1 in the Round of 16 in 2002 before losing to Turkey 1-0 in the quarterfinals. England will officially begin its quest for 2018 World Cup knockout stage redemption after making the semifinals in Russia and being upset by eventual runner-up Croatia. England’s best finishes in the World Cup have been fourth place in 2018, fourth place in 1990, and of course, its 1966 title when it was the host and defeated West Germany in the finals. This will be England’s 15th time qualifying from group play in 16 World Cup trips, dating back to its first-ever appearance in 1950. The only time the English didn’t advance past the group stage was in 2014, when it finished behind both Italy and Uruguay.

SENEGAL 2, ECUADOR 1

What: World Cup, Group Stage (A): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 @ 9 a.m. CT
Where: Khalifa International Stadium (Al Rayyan, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: Senegal (No. 18) vs. Ecuador (No. 44)

A strike from Kalidou Koulibaly in the 70th minute lifted Senegal to a 2-1 victory over Ecuador and a berth in the Round of 16 on Tuesday at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Senegal essentially needed a win to avoid elimination, and the African nation responded by never trailing throughout the contest. The Lions of Teranga took a 1-0 lead in the 44th minute after a penalty kick was converted for a score by Ismaïla Sarr. Ecuador only needed a draw to qualify for the knockout stage and played conservatively before the opening goal by Senegal, seemingly happy with possessing the ball but not taking too many risks. However, that conservative strategy backfired on the Ecuadorians, as Senegal was the aggressor in this Matchday 3 contest. The Senegalese outshot Ecuador 14 to nine overall and doubled up its South American opponent in corner kicks (six to three). Ecuador’s equalizing goal came in the 67th minute on a volley from Moisés Caicedo to make it 1-1, but la Tricolor’s glory quickly faded just three minutes later on the go-ahead goal from Koulibaly. Ecuador was whistled for more than double the amount of fouls than Senegal in the match (23 to 11), most coming when they trailed both 1-0 and 2-1. It was a disappointing finish and exit for what was shaping to be a surprising run into the knockout stage for No. 44-ranked Ecuador. Senegal came into the 2022 World Cup ranked as the No. 18 team in the world by FIFA, but many doubted the form of this team after its star player Sadio Mane was ruled out with a knee injury before the tournament. Despite a loss to the Netherlands in its opening match, Senegal registered back-to-back wins against Qatar and Ecuador by a combined score of 5-2 to close out Group A play and advance into the Round of 16. Senegal will now face Group B winner England at 1 p.m. CT on Sunday, Dec. 4, at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. England clinched first place in Group B with a victory over Wales on Matchday 3 and went unbeaten during group play to finish with two wins, seven points, and a 0-0 draw to the USA. It will be the first-ever meeting between Senegal and England.

NETHERLANDS 2, QATAR 0

What: World Cup, Group Stage (A): Matchday 3 of 3
When: Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022 @ 9 a.m. CT
Where: Al Bayt Stadium (Al Khor, Qatar)
FIFA World Ranking: Netherlands (No. 8) vs. Qatar (No. 50)

The Dutch of Netherlands clinched first place in Group A with a 2-0 shutout against host nation Qatar on Tuesday at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The 23-year-old Cody Gakpo of PSV scored his third goal in as many matches – making it exactly one in each game so far – when he found the back of the net in the 26th minute to put the nation simply known as “Holland” up 1-0 before the halftime break. The Netherlands ended its Group A campaign as the only unbeaten team in the group, finishing with two wins and one tie and allowing just one goal in three total matches. Frenkie de Jong’s volley in the 49th minute added to the Matchday 3 adulation for the Dutch, who led Qatar in time of possession (63% to 37%), total shots (13 to five), shots on goal (four to three) and corner kicks (four to two). Qatar, which was the first nation to be eliminated from knockout stage contention after Matchday 2, went scoreless for the second time and finished 0-3 overall with zero points in Group A competition. The Qataris lost all three matches by multiple goals, although they can hang their hat on scoring at least one goal – something that Tunisia, Mexico, and Uruguay have all yet to do – which came in their 3-1 defeat to Senegal. The No. 8-ranked Dutch will now prepare for a battle with the No. 16-ranked USA in the Round of 16 in a highly-anticipated match set for 9 a.m. CT this Saturday, Dec. 3, at Khalifa International Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. Holland is 4-1 all-time versus the Americans, although the two nations’ most recent meeting resulted in a one-score victory for the USA in June of 2015.

Wednesday’s Schedule (Nov. 30, 2022): Matchday 3 of 3