Iran nearly earned themselves a highly improbable draw against Lionel Messi and the heavily favored Argentine team, marking their second consecutive scoreless match of the World Cup in Group F. Goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi starred for the Iranians, while Argentina's goalie Sergio Romero was also required to turn away several difficult shots.
Argentina was expected to thrash Iran, entering the World Cup as the fifth-ranked side while Iran was a meager 43rd. In the first half, all signs pointed toward that thrashing, but the game Iranians survived an onslaught of shots led by Messi and co.
Arguably the greatest player in the world, Messi attempted three shots in the first half, and Argentina fired off 10 overall, but only got two on goal. They led time of possession 78 percent to 22, however, a harbinger of what was to come.
In the second half Iran came out firing, missing one opportunity in particular to make Argentina sweat. As the second half wore on, however, the Argentines assumed control. They possessed the ball even more than in the first half and kept firing away at the Iran goal, ignoring misses. Still, nothing they fired at Haghighi could find the back of the net; either he stopped the shots, or they were angled poorly and missed the net entirely.
Finally in stoppage time (92') Messi proved why he may just be the world's greatest footballer, curving a left-footed shot around the outstretched arms of Haghighi who dove full extension to try and block the shot. The score was Messi's second goal in as many matches, and all but assures the Argentines of advancing to the Round of 16.
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