FIFA World Cup 2022: Pulisic nets winner goal Lead USA into last-16 after thrshed Iran, later Hospitalized, Player ratings.

Christian Pulisic scored a first-half winner as the United States claimed a 1-0 win over Iran to reach the last 16 of the World Cup before the Chelsea winger was taken to hospital injured.

Team Melli looked like a different team against Rob Page's men to the one that was thrashed by England in their opening game, whereas the Stars and Stripes will be rueing missed chances that forced them to share the points with the Three Lions last time out.

The Chelsea forward scored from close range in the 38th minute, but he was left limping after a rough collision with the goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand. Although he was able to finish the half, Pulisic was replaced at halftime.

On the verge of halftime, Timothy Weah had a goal disallowed for offside. Iran improved after the break, but they offered little offensively and failed to rally when a draw would have been enough to advance them to the knockout stages for the first time.

The USA will now play the Netherlands on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the first round of the playoffs after Louis van Gaal's team claimed Group A victory over the Qatari hosts.

World Cup 2022 Fantasy football: Iran vs USA, Player ratings

Iran player ratings (4-3-3)

Iran: Beiranvand (6), Rezaeian (6), Majid Hosseini (6), Pouraliganji (6), Mohammadi (6), Noorollahi (6), Ezatolahi (6), Hajsafi (6), Gholizadeh (6), Azmoun (6), Taremi (6)

Subs: Karimi (6), Ghoddos (6), Torabi (6), Jalai (6), Ansarifard (6)

United States player ratings (4-3-3)

USA: Turner (7), Dest (8), Carter-Vickers (7), Ream (7), Robinson (7), McKennie (7), Adams (7), Musah (8), Weah (7), Sargent (8), Pulisic (8)

Subs: Aaronson (7), Acosta (7), Wright (6)

Man of the match: Sergino Dest

USA in Knockout Stage for third consecutive time - Opta Key stats

USA have now reached the knockout stages of the World Cup in three consecutive appearances at the competition, doing so in 2010 and 2014 previously having been eliminated at this stage in 2006.
USA have recorded a clean sheet in each of their last two World Cup games, as many as in their previous 28 games in the tournament.
Indeed, it's the first time they've done so in successive games at the tournament since their first two in 1930.
USA have won each of the last eight matches in which Christian Pulisic has scored.
Iran's four shots, all of which came in the second half, two of which in added time, is their second-fewest in a World Cup game, only having fewer against Netherlands in 1978 (3).
Pulisic has been involved in both of USA's goals at the World Cup so far, scoring his first World Cup goal tonight against Iran (1 assist also).
Since 1966, only Landon Donovan in 2010 (3 - all 3 goals) has been directly involved in more goals for them at a single edition of the tournament.