#WC2018: Morocco vs Iran is 0-0 at halftime in Group B
MOSCOW, Russia (AP) — Iran weathered early pressure from Morocco before missing a late opportunity as the teams went into halftime locked at 0-0 in Group B of the World Cup on Friday.
Playing in their first World Cup in 20 years, Morocco made a great start in St Petersburg and created a series of half-chances — notably when successive close-range efforts from Younes Belhanda and Mehdi Benatia were blocked in a goalmouth scramble.
Iran gradually came into the game and just before halftime, star striker Sardar Azmoun was played through on goal — only for goalkeeper Monir El Kajoui to make a sprawling save.
Both teams entered the World Cup with strong defensive records, so a goalless score line wasn’t entirely surprising.
Iran started with Sardar Azmoun in place of injured striker Mehdi Taremi for the opening Group B match against Morocco in St Petersburg.
Up front for Morocco was Ayoub El Kaabi, who only made his international debut in March but has forced his way into Herve Renard’s starting lineup.
Morocco: Achraf Hakimi, Mehdi Benatia, Romain Saiss, Hakim Ziyech, Karim El Ahmadi, Ayoub El Kaabi, Younes Belhanda, Monir El Kajoui, Mbark Boussoufa, Noureddine Amrabat, Amine Harit
Iran: Ali Beiranvand, Ehsan Hajisafi, Roozbeh Cheshmi, Masoud Shojaei, Morteza Pouraliganji, Omid Ebrahimi, Karim Ansarifard, Vahid Amiri, Alieza Jahanbakhsh, Sardar Azmoun, Ramin Rezaeian.