DOHA, Qatar — Now the knockout rounds start for real for the U.S. men.
Needing a victory over Iran to advance out of the group stage, the USMNT got a goal in the 38th minute and hung on from there, surviving several late challenges from Iran to get a 1-0 victory Tuesday night. As the second-place finisher in Group B, they will play the Netherlands, the Group A winner, on Saturday.
The Americans dominated the Iranians for much of the first half, their youth more than outweighing their inexperience. They were able to get to balls and close down spaces quickly, and Sergino Dest and Tim Weah repeatedly tested Iran’s defense, which could do little but bunker down and block the last U.