Iran end Angola's adventure

Group D Iran 1 Angola 1: Free burritos for life for Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh, the big Iranian defender whose 75th-minute equaliser guaranteed it was Mexico and not Angola that took the second spot in this Group D day of destiny.

This match, played in 33 degrees in Leipzig, will be immediately consigned to the darkest corners of the World Cup archives, never to be consulted again. But for a tantalising period in the second half it looked as if the African nation might make the last 16, thereby creating the feel-good story of the tournament.

Then, the big man from Tehran rose into the warm sky and delivered a bullet of a header that salvaged some element of respect for his own country but more lastingly gave Mexico safe passage despite a torrid experience against the silken-skilled Portugal.

Angola were dependent on a positive result for Portugal in that other deciding match and they were handsomely set up by Maniche and company. And when Angolan substitute Flavio rose completely unmarked to guide Ze Kalanga's cross into the Iranian net after one hour of much endeavour and little else, there seemed to be a touch of voodoo floating around Leipzig. The Africans deserved the goal and they played with such open desire and heart that it was impossible not to warm to their cause.

But they benefited from outrageous luck at times and, as the television screen showed Mexico blazing a penalty wide and having a man sent off for diving, it appeared as though there was some kind of cosmic force at work for Angola.

Although they were explicitly aware of the need for goals here, Luis Concalves is not a man to be persuaded of the merits of the two-man attack and once again, the team veteran and all-time scoring leader Akwa was sent out as the lone front man, with the impressive Ze Kalanga in constant attack mode along the left wing.

But as the match fell into a bruising first-half pattern, the Iranians all feints and darting runs and soft passes, the Angolan's full hearted and brimming with unorthodox skills, it was hard to see where the goals were going to come.

Angola's Loco and Mateus were carried off with injuries suffered at either end of the field in the 17th minute. Loco, a gangly warrior, returned to play a fine game.

The Africans also had outstanding performers in Kali and Figueiredo, who pulled the strings and kept some composure in an attacking game that was sometimes wild. The little midfielder earns his living playing in Portugal and he was full of subtle touches.

It was his measured pass over a retreating Iran defence that made the magical moment possible. The crossing ball seemed to take forever to reach Flavio who headed home at the far post. It would have been a treat to see them hang in there. But Iran, playing without star turn Ali Karimi, were well worth the draw.

They probably offered the truest reflection of their worth here, distressing Angola with some sharp, one-touch attacks and a series of thunderous strikes which were dealt with in alarmingly fashion by Joao Ricardo, Angola's erratic accident -prone goalkeeper.

His stop on 40 minutes from a Andranik Taymoorian drive kept Angola's hopes alive but against that, he looked nervous dealing with the perfunctory crosses delivered by Mehdi Mahdavikia on Iran's set-pieces. He stayed on his line for the fatal Ferydoon Zandi corner that was converted by Bakhtiarizadeh but the Angolan defence was also culpable for allowing the defender a clear look. The timing of the goal was cruel as Angola had just lost Figueiredo to injury and the last minutes of the match evaporated as both teams tired in the fierce heat.

Ricardo denied Iran victory with a fine late save which denied Rasoul Khatibi. Angola were spent by then but can head home content that their first World Cup was far from a disgrace. Both teams trooped off exhausted and the only real sign of celebration here in Leipzig was beamed in from the Mexican fans, delighted to have limped into the second round.