Jason Martin of Gilroy, center, celebrates the U.S. win against Iran in the World Cup on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, with his friends, Bren Shepard, center left, and David Tran, right, at The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill in downtown San Jose, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)
The United States advanced to the knockout round of the World Cup with a nail biting 1-0 win over Iran on Tuesday.
Christian Pulisic scored while crashing headfirst into the goalkeeper in the 38th minute in a politically charged rematch of their famous meeting a quarter-century ago.
Pulisic sprawled on the field and was lying in the goal for about three minutes as he received treatment from the U.S. staff. He re-entered the game but was replaced at the start of the second half.
Back in the World Cup after missing the 2018 tournament, the U.S. opened with draws against Wales and England and needed a victory to move on to the round of 16. Iran finished third with three points. The team has failed to advance in all six of its World Cup appearances.
The U.S. outshot Iran 9-0 in the first half but didn’t break through until Pulisic came up with the big moment that a growing and increasingly demanding fan base back home had been pining for.
“I always say it’s us against the world,” forward Tim Weah said. “No one believed the U.S. could play good football.”
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Christian Pulisic of the United States scores his side’s opening goal during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) Soccer fans fill a World Cup watch party at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, as the United States defeats Iran, 1-0. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) DOHA, QATAR – NOVEMBER 29: Christian Pulisic of United States scores their team’s first goal during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images)
Anthony Mendoza and Shaun Ryan watch the final torturous moments of the United State’s tense 1-0 World Cup victory over Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at an outdoor watch party at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Matt Turner of United States celebrates after their first goal by Christian Pulisic during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Jason Purdy, of Alameda, left, and Kevin Sweeney, of Oakland, celebrate the United States men’s national team’s 1-0 victory over Iran during a World Cup watch party at The Athletic Club Oakland in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Walker Zimmerman of United States battles for possession with Karim Ansarifard (L) and Morteza Pouraliganji of IR Iran during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) Deepa Patel, of San Bruno, watches the United States men’s national team World Cup match against Iran at The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) United States’ Yunus Musah, right, Aaron Long, center, and United States’ goalkeeper Sean Johnson celebrate after defeating Iran in the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Taz Cole watches a broadcast of the United States soccer team playing Iran in a World Cup soccer match, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, during an outdoor watch party at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Yunus Musah of United States battles for possession with Abolfazl Jalali of IR Iran during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Patrons watch the United States men’s national team’s match against Iran during a World Cup watch party at The Athletic Club Oakland in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The U.S. beat Iran 1-0. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Roozbeh Cheshmi of IR Iran is fouled by Timothy Weah of United States during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group B match between IR Iran and USA at Al Thumama Stadium on November 29, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images) Gabe Abatecola, of San Jose, watches the final minutes of the United States men’s national team World Cup match against Iran at The Old Wagon Saloon & Grill in downtown San Jose, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group) Goalkeeper Matt Turner of the United States makes aa save during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
The Athletic Club Oakland is adorned with flag as they host a World Cup watch party of the United States men’s national team’s match against Iran in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The U.S. beat Iran 1-0. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Iran’s Karim Ansarifard (10) and United States’ Cameron Carter-Vickers battle for a header during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jason Purdy, of Alameda, left, reacts as he watches the United States men’s national team’s match against Iran during a World Cup watch party at The Athletic Club Oakland in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The U.S. beat Iran 1-0. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Iran’s Ali Karimi (18) tackles the ball away from United States’ Tim Weah during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Jeremy and Monica Becker cheer with their son Atticus during the final moments of the United State’s tense 1-0 World Cup soccer victory over Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, at an outdoor watch party at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group) Players fight for a header during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Tyler Crosby-Jolliffe, of Oakland, center, reacts while watching the United States men’s national team’s match against Iran during a World Cup watch party at The Athletic Club Oakland in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The U.S. beat Iran 1-0. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) United States’ goalkeeper Matt Turner (1) eyes the ball as United States’ Sergino Dest (2) and Iran’s Saman Ghoddos battle for a header during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Taz Cole cheers on the United States soccer team during their World Cup match with Iran, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022, during an outdoor watch party at The Crossing at East Cut in San Francisco, Calif. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)
Tim Weah of the United States vies for the ball with Iran’s Morteza Pouraliganji, top, during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) Patrons watch the United States men’s national team’s match against Iran during a World Cup watch party at The Athletic Club Oakland in downtown Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. The U.S. beat Iran 1-0. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) Josh Sargent of the United States jumps over Iran’s Majid Hosseini during the World Cup group B soccer match between Iran and the United States at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Jane Tyska is an award-winning staff photojournalist, videojournalist, drone pilot and picture editor based out of Oakland, and has worked for the Bay Area News Group since 1997. She's there when news breaks and has been known to arrive on assignment by many modes of transport, including motorcycle and boat.
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