Christian Pulisic strike guides USA past Iran to set up Netherlands meeting

It is the USA who will join England in qualifying from Group B, though, and they will face the Netherlands on Saturday. They needed the win and deserved it, Christian Pulisic scoring seven minutes before half-time but sustaining an injury in the process. It was a cool, controlled performance and a fixture whose pre-match storylines seemed endless passed without any flashpoints.

They subsequently channeled their energy into support for Queiroz and his players. The din was quite something and so was the silence, sharp and sudden, when Pulisic gave their opponents the edge. It had been coming: while proceedings had swung from end to end early on there had been a decided shift in balance over the previous 15 minutes, the USA calling the tune and doing everything bar create a clear chance.

Finally Iran came close when Saman Ghoddos, who had replaced Azmoun, headed over from with Dest doing just enough to prevent an equaliser. It was their first goal attempt and the bank of fans behind it roared their approval.

As the minutes ticked down, the USA were content to hold onto what they had. Direct threats were few, although Iran screamed in vain for handball when the substitute Shaq Moore let a dangerous right-wing cross roll up his body. A late twist never looked especially likely but Ramin Rezaeian nearly provided it when heading an added-time free-kick inches wide. Taremi almost converted at the death for Iran, who again howled for a penalty, but it was not enough.