Belgium and Iran both fail to score as match concludes in 0-0 draw.
Belgium outshot Iran 23-7 and held 70% of the possession but could not manage to get past Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
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Beiranvand would have himself a day, saving seven shots on goal and keeping Iran in this match.
Belgium came out full force, taking nine shots on net in the first 25 minutes of the half.
But it would be Iran who would seemingly draw first blood in the 25th minute.
However, following a brief VAR check, it would be disallowed, keeping the deadlock intact.
Going into the half, neither side could take the lead, with both teams drawn at 0.
In the first half Belgium would outshoot Iran 11 to two, holding 81% of the possession.
But they just could not capitalize.
Entering the second half, in the 53rd minute, Iran would force just the second save of the day from Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.
Mehdi Taremi would fire a fantastic strike onto net from close range, but Courtois was there to make the save.
In the 59th minute Belgium would create chaos in the box, but an incredible save by Beiranvand would give him the chance to recover the loose ball in front of net.
In the 67th minute a huge momentum shift would occur in favor of Iran.
Nathan Ngoy would lose control of a pass which was quickly pounced onto by Taremi who would have had a clear path onto goal.
Ngoy, trying to grapple himself back into position, fouled Taremi, possibly in hopes of slowing down the sudden Iranian attack.
But due to a ruling by referee Dario Herrera, Ngoy denied a clear goal scoring opportunity, showing the Belgian an immediate red card.
Even while playing with a man down Belgium would continue to create scoring opportunities.
In the 86th Maxim De Cuyper would fire a strike onto net, however, Beiranvand would make his seventh save of the match and keep the match even.
The match would remain in a deadlock till the very end, with the full-time whistle solidifying a 0-0 draw, splitting the points between the two nations.
Belgium and Iran will both play their final group stage matches at 11 p.m. on Friday.
Belgium will look take all three points against New Zealand in what may be a must win affair for the Belgians.
Iran will take on Egypt with the possibility of sneaking into the first-place spot depending on how other matches conclude.
Follow Adrian Murillo Silva on Instagram @adrianms_official
