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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Guardian sport

Iran and South Korea miss out on World Cup last 32 in dramatic third-place race

Iran’s players applaud the fans after their defeat to Belgium
Iran’s players applaud the fans after their defeat to Belgium, a result which ultimately sees them eliminated from the World Cup. Photograph: Xinhua/Shutterstock

The race for third-place teams reaching the last 32 of the World Cup went down to the wire and the dying seconds of the final match of the 72-game group stage, with Iran and South Korea eventually joining Scotland and Uruguay in missing out.

Iran appeared to be going through at the expense of Austria after Riyad Mahrez scored in the 93rd minute to put Algeria 3-2 up in their rollercoaster game against Ralf Rangnick’s side in Kansas City. But in the 96th minute Sasa Kalajdzic turned home an equaliser for Austria that saved their World Cup and meant despair for Iran.

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