New Zealand v Iran: Just Scores Twice but Iran Fight Back to Deny All Whites Historic Win

• Motherwell forward Elijah Just scored twice but Iran came from behind on both occasions to draw 2-2 with New Zealand in their Group G opener at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
• Ramin Rezaeian scored Iran’s first equalizer and assisted Mohammad Mohebbi’s headed second as Team Melli twice responded to falling behind.
• The result left all four teams in Group G level on one point after Belgium drew 1-1 with Egypt earlier in the day.

Just’s Dream Double Not Enough as Iran Rally Twice in Politically Charged Opener

Iran twice came from behind to deny New Zealand a first World Cup victory, drawing 2-2 in a thrilling Group G opener played against an extraordinary political backdrop in Los Angeles. Elijah Just scored early in each half for the All Whites, but Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebbi replied for an Iranian side whose very participation in the tournament had been in doubt until the final weeks before kickoff.

The buildup to the match had been dominated by politics rather than football. The United States and Iran had been at war since February 28, and an agreement to halt hostilities and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was only announced on Sunday. Members of Iran’s staff had not been granted visas for the US, forcing Team Melli to move their training base from Arizona to Tijuana, Mexico. Iran flew into the country on the day before each match and returned to Mexico immediately afterward. Several hundred Iranian Americans protested outside SoFi Stadium before kickoff, and many fans from the diaspora jeered and turned their backs during the national anthem, though almost all appeared to support the Iranian players once the match began.

Once the whistle blew, the focus shifted firmly to football. New Zealand stunned the strong pro-Iranian crowd in the seventh minute when captain Chris Wood intercepted a goal kick and eventually forced the ball to Just. The Motherwell forward thumped home a half volley in traffic to give the lowest-ranked side in the tournament a dream start.

Iran, ranked 65 places above New Zealand at 20th in the world, responded with urgency. Mehdi Taremi came close to equalizing when he struck the post with a powerful drive from outside the box. The first-half hydration break then proved costly for the All Whites, as it has for several teams at this tournament, with Iran seizing the momentum in its aftermath. Rezaeian found himself in space on the right side of the penalty area in the 32nd minute and chipped a finish with the outside of his boot past Max Crocombe to level the score. Iran had a further goal ruled out for offside before the break as they threatened to take control.

New Zealand took time to regroup after halftime but Just produced another moment of quality in the 54th minute. Wood held up play superbly and found his strike partner with a deft touch, and Just lofted the ball over Alireza Beiranvand to restore the All Whites’ lead. The link-up between Wood and Just caused Iran problems throughout and Just’s two finishes were the reward for a performance full of creativity from a player whose seven goals and eight assists for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership had marked him as one to watch.

Iran would not be denied a second time. Rezaeian delivered a perfect long cross in the 64th minute that found Mohebbi at the back post, and the defender guided a header in off the inside of the post to make it 2-2. Both sides had chances to win it in the closing stages but neither could find a third goal.

Players from both teams embraced and shook hands after the final whistle, with at least one jersey swap taking place. While Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei sat alone in the dugout, his players gathered together and walked around the field applauding thousands of flag-waving, roaring fans.

Just was focused on what lies ahead despite his remarkable individual display. “One goal was nice, two was not something I could ever have dreamed of,” the 25-year-old said. “This team is really special but we know how tough our other opponents are. We have a lot of work to do.”

New Zealand matched their entire goal total from each of their two previous World Cup appearances in a single match, but the All Whites remain winless at the tournament across three editions. They qualified for their first World Cup since 2010 as the lowest-ranked team in the 48-nation field, seizing the first automatic qualifying berth for the Oceania Football Confederation after the expansion. Iran, making their seventh World Cup appearance and fourth in succession, have never advanced beyond the group stage. Both sides face tougher opponents in the remaining fixtures, with Iran meeting Belgium and New Zealand taking on Egypt on June 21.

WRITTEN BY

Jarrod

Jarrod Partridge is the Founder of Futbol Chronicle and an accredited journalist with over 30 years of experience following international football. A member of the AIPS International Sports Press Association, Jarrod has covered matches at stadiums around the world, bringing first-hand insight to every match report, player profile, and tactical analysis he writes.

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