Qatar 2022: England beat Wales to top Group B; USA edge Iran in a feisty game to grab second place
Marcus Rashford’s second-half double propelled England to a 3-0 win over neighbours Wales on Tuesday that sent them into the World Cup last 16 as Group B winners and ended Welsh hopes of reaching the knockout stage.
The encounter came to life when Rashford curled home a free kick from the edge of the area in the 50th minute before Phil Foden arrived unmarked at the far post to sidefoot Harry Kane’s cross into the net a minute later.
Rashford then inflicted a final blow when he cut inside and somehow managed to find the net with a shot that went through the legs of goalkeeper Danny Ward in the 68th.
The win moved England to seven points and set up a tie against Senegal in the next round, while Wales finished bottom with one point as their first World Cup in 64 years ended without a victory and only one goal scored in three games.
Christian Pulisic could not even celebrate scoring against Iran after he injured himself as the United States beat Iran 1-0 on Tuesday in an entertaining Group B decider to storm into the last 16 of the World Cup.
Needing a win to reach the knockout stages, the Americans were relentless in attack in a high-tempo game and broke the deadlock in the 38th minute when Sergino Dest’s perfect header found Pulisic, who clashed with the goalkeeper as he bundled the ball in and was too injured to celebrate.
Spurred on by an electric atmosphere at Doha’s Al Thumama stadium, the US team oozed confidence and was always in control against an Iran side who could have advanced with a draw.
Yunus Musah and Weston McKennie were instrumental in almost every US move, with Dest always troubling Iran, who were outplayed and created few chances.
The meeting between the two diplomatic adversaries was the first at a World Cup since the 1998 tournament in France, a match dubbed “the mother of all football matches”.
The USA after placing second will face off in the last 16 against Group A winners Netherlands.
