DOHA: Iran recovered composure and verve to beat Wales 2-0 with a stoppage-time double which kept their World Cup Group B qualifying dreams alive.

Team Melli were well worth the three points after their initial 6-2 collapse against England. They also had one goal disallowed in the first half and twice struck the posts in the second. Wales created only one serious opportunity

Midfielder Joe Allen must have finished the game wishing he had not won his race back to fitness after injury. It was his weak defensive clearance which Rouzbeh Cheshmi punished in the eighth minute of stoppage time and it was Allen whose mistimed touch opened the way for Ramin Rezaeian to score a second.

Wales had been reduced to 10 men in the 86th minute when goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off for flattening the onrushing Mehdi Taremi. Referee Daniee Orsati initially showed the goalkeeper yellow then changed it to red after a VAR review. Danny Ward took over in goal with Aaron Ramsey making way.

Coach Carlos Queiroz said: “It was a wonderful day for us. We were back to football. Our players deserve all attention and respect. They deserve to be supported. We did it for the fans.”

Iran’s players sang their national anthem before this game remaining silent before their opening 6-2 defeat by England.

That gesture was considered an apparent expression of support for anti-government protests sparked by the death in custody in September of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old woman who was detained by morality police for allegedly breaking the strict rules around head coverings.

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