Elijah Just Double Not Enough as Iran Rally Twice Against New Zealand
Iran displayed impressive determination to earn a 2-2 draw against New Zealand in an entertaining Group G encounter in Los Angeles, preventing the All Whites from recording their first victory of the tournament.
New Zealand made a dream start and found the breakthrough early through Elijah Just. The Motherwell attacker finished confidently after captain Chris Wood used his strength to hold possession before setting up the chance. The move highlighted the growing partnership between the two forwards and gave New Zealand early control of proceedings.
The Oceania side looked comfortable during the opening stages, but the contest shifted after the first hydration interval. Iran gradually settled into the game and began creating opportunities. Their pressure nearly paid off when Mehdi Taremi unleashed a fierce long range effort that struck the post. The warning signs were clear, and the equaliser soon followed. Ramin Rezaeian reacted quickly inside the area and guided the ball beyond goalkeeper Max Crocombe to make it 1-1.
Iran thought they had completed the turnaround before halftime, only for a goal to be ruled out for offside. Despite that setback, they continued to pose a significant threat going forward.
The second half started at a slower pace for New Zealand, but their key attacking duo combined again to restore the lead. Wood provided another intelligent contribution and Just showed excellent composure, lifting his finish over Alireza Beiranvand to score his second goal of the evening.
However, Iran refused to back down. Their persistence was rewarded when Rezaeian delivered a precise cross into the penalty area. Mohammad Mohebbi timed his run perfectly and directed a header off the inside of the post to level the score for a second time.
Both teams pushed for a winner during the closing stages, producing an open and entertaining contest. Iran registered 17 attempts compared to New Zealand’s 14, underlining how closely matched the sides were throughout the match.
The result leaves Group G finely balanced, with every team sitting on one point following Belgium’s 1-1 draw against Egypt in the other fixture.
While Iran’s resilience earned praise, Just emerged as one of the game’s standout performers. The 26 year old continued the fine form that saw him contribute seven goals and eight assists for Motherwell during the 2025-26 Scottish Premiership season.
Reflecting on his memorable performance, Just admitted scoring twice on football’s biggest stage exceeded even his own expectations. Nevertheless, his focus remains firmly on helping New Zealand progress from a highly competitive group.
