Egypt1–1Iran

Egypt were already through and resting players. Iran needed a win and came agonisingly close to getting it. Mahmoud Saber put Egypt ahead in the 5th, finishing from the left side of the box after a Trezeguet assist. Iran won a penalty at 9' — Abdelmonem fouled in the area — but Taremi's spot kick was saved by Shobeir diving to the bottom right. The reprieve barely lasted: Abdelmonem went off injured, and while the substitution was being sorted, Iran pressed — Mohammadi forced a save, and Rezaeian tapped in the rebound from close range at 14'. Seven yellows punctuated the next hour. Egypt subbed Salah off at 57' — no sense risking him before the knockouts. Then the final minutes unravelled almost everything. Khalilzadeh put the ball in the net in the 90'+3 — Iran thought they'd won it — but VAR ruled it out for offside after a review. From the restart, Iran kept coming: Taremi's shot was blocked, Rezaeian followed up and was blocked again, then Ezatolahi met a Jahanbakhsh cross from a corner with a header from point-blank range and hit the bar. Penalty miss, disallowed goal, crossbar — all for Iran. Egypt held on. Egypt finish second in Group G behind Belgium on goal difference. Iran take three points into the best-thirds pool, currently 6th of nine thirds determined — a decent position, with three groups still to play.