Iran surprise Wales with 2 killer goals, keep hopes up to qualify

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Host nation Qatar was eliminated from the World Cup on Friday after a second straight 3-1 defeat against Senegal.

Qatar became the first team to be knocked out of this World Cup after the Netherlands and Ecuador drew 1-1 in the other Group A game.

The Asian champions had high hopes coming into the tournament but become only the second home team to crash out in the group stage, after South Africa in 2010.

Goals from Boulaye Dia, Famara Diedhiou, and Bamba Dieng were enough to give the African champions Senegal the win.

It is the first time the World Cup hosts have gone out after just two games.

On their part, the Iranian national team, which would have been eliminated had they lost, punished Gareth Bale's Wales in the eighth minute of injury time when substitute Rouzbeh Cheshmi scored the first goal in a 2-0 victory following a 6-2 loss by England in their opening match.

A few seconds before the end of the game, Ramin Rezaeian clipped in a second goal on the counter-attack, keeping Iran's hopes up to qualify for the round of 16.

England missed a chance to book their place in the World Cup round of 16 as coach Gareth Southgate's side drew 0-0 against the United States.

Southgate's players would have been guaranteed to advance from Group B with a victory in their second game of the tournament, having beaten Iran 6-2 on Monday.

In the same context, Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk insisted that his side will improve at the World Cup after a 1-1 draw with Ecuador that left them waiting to secure a place in the last 16.