The Goal VAR Erased and the Words That Broke Hearts: 'I Don't Know Why We're So Unlucky'
A disallowed goal in stoppage time leaves Iran on the brink of elimination. Full-back Rezaeian delivers an emotional plea for forgiveness to the Iranian people at the World Cup.
In stoppage time, the ball hit the net. The celebrations erupted. Then VAR arrived — and took it all away.
Iran drew 1–1 with Egypt in the early hours of Saturday morning in Seattle, and Khalilzadeh's goal that would have sealed qualification was ruled out for a marginal offside. The result left the Iranian side — unbeaten at this World Cup — teetering on the edge.
No one felt the weight of the moment more than full-back Rezaeian, 36, a veteran of Foolad FC. Visibly shaken as he left the pitch, he didn't hold back, according to ge: "I don't know why we're so unlucky. Our people deserve so much more." He went further: "We were prepared to die, we just wanted to make our people happy." And then came the words that summed everything up — "Forgive us."
Three draws. No defeats. And still, out of the World Cup.
That is what could happen to Iran, who are also navigating a turbulent tournament off the pitch: logistical problems, protests and entry restrictions into the United States, as reported by ge.
Currently the sixth-best third-placed side, with three points and a goal difference of zero, Iran are still through — but Saturday afternoon could change everything. The combination that eliminates them requires wins for Congo and Croatia, plus a draw between Algeria and Austria. If any of those matches produces a clear winner, Iran can breathe again.
Meanwhile, Senegal have already sorted out their business with a 5–0 thrashing of Iraq in Toronto, according to Trivela, and advance as a third-placed side. Golmetria's model gives the Senegalese a 46% chance of reaching the round of sixteen — numbers that reflect the scale of that victory.
Iran played well, as Rezaeian himself said. Now, all that's left is to hope — and pray that VAR doesn't show up again at the worst possible moment.