SEATTLE, United States, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Thanks to goalkeeper Mostafa Shoubir's penalty save and a stoppage-time Iranian goal being ruled out for offside, Egypt earned a 1-1 tie with Iran here on Friday to reach the World Cup knockout stage for the first time as Group G runner-up.
Belgium, who crushed New Zealand 5-1 in the other Group G match, leveled with Egypt on five points and finished top on goal difference.
Iran, who collected three ties in the group, finished third with three points and must wait to see if it is among the eight best third-placed sides.
The only previous encounter between Egypt and Iran was a friendly in Tehran in June 2000, when Egypt won through penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw.
Only five minutes into Friday's duel, Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand blocked Mohamed Salah's effort, but midfielder Mahmoud Saber was there to fire the loose ball home to gift Egypt a 1-0 lead.
Iran's star striker Mehdi Taremi won a penalty in the 11th minute. Taremi side-footed his spot-kick to Egypt goalkeeper Shoubir's left, but the penalty was weak and denied by the goalkeeper.
Three minutes later, Iran defender Ramin Rezaeian reacted quickest to turn the ball home from a tight angle after defender Milad Mohammadi's effort was saved by Shoubir.
Few clear-cut chances occurred for the rest of the match until Iran mounted sustained pressure in the final 10 minutes.
Taremi hit the bar, before Iran defender Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored when he bundled the ball home following a goalmouth scramble. However, a marginal offside call saw the goal ruled out. In the final minute of stoppage time, Iran midfielder Saeid Ezatolahi sent a header crashing off the crossbar.
Egypt will take on Australia in the round of 32 in Dallas on July 3. ■
