Live Ticker: Portugal 2 : 0 Iran

What's riding on the game?
Like all the second group games between winners -- Portugal beat Angola 1-0, and losers Iran lost to 3-1 to Mexico in their first Group D games -- a win for Portugal would mean a sure spot in the round of 16 and three points are essential for Iran to avoid an early trip home.

Starting line-up announced
Here's how the coaches will send out the teams:

Portugal: (4-5-1)

1- Ricardo; 13- Miguel, 16- Ricardo Carvalho, 5- Fernando Meira, 14- Nuno Valente; 20- Deco, 6- Costinha, 18- Maniche, 7- Luis Figo (captain), 17- Cristiano Ronaldo; 9- Pauleta

Coach: Luiz Felipe Scolari

Iran: (4-4-2)

1- Ebrahim Mirzapour; 13- Hossein Kaabi, 5- Rahman Rezaei, 4- Yahya Golmohammadi (captain), 20- Mohammad Nosrati; 2- Mehdi Mahdavikia, 6- Javad Nekounam, 8- Ali Karimi, 14- Andranik Teymourian; 21- Mehrzad Madanchi, 9- Vahid Hashemian

Coach: Branko Ivankovic

Referee: Eric Poulat (France)

Deco makes his debut in the 2006 World Cup.
Look for the Portuguese playmaker to add to the team's creativity in the middle of the field.

Conditions cooling down
The thermometer reads a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius (77 F) as the national anthems are played in Frankfurt.

1. min.
Iran kick the game off
French referee Eric Poulat blows the whistle and we're underway.

2. min.
Figo sends in a great pass from the bottom corner of the penalty area to Deco, but the center can't get it under control before being swarmed by Iranian defenders.

3. min.
Portugal control the ball with imprecise passes that Iran aren't trying to cut off.

5. min.
Deco changes his shoes
Just minutes into the match, Deco realizes he wants a different pair of cleats on the Frankfurt pitch. Players have complained of slippery grass and have lost their footing several times already during the tournament.

8. min.
Portugal are moving well up the flanks but can't manage to center the ball. Iran give up a corner.

8. min.
Figo sends the ball out to Maniche; his long-distance shot sails wide.

10. min.
Moving on up
Miguel dribbles into the penalty box after taking a long run from his defensive position; his shot is blocked by Rezaei's shin.

11. min.
Iran get their first counter attack chance of the match; they are caught up in midfield giving the Portuguese midfielders time to get back.

12. min.
Nekounam heads past the goal on an Iran free kick. The pace of the game is picking up.

13. min.
Deco fires a left footer from 10 meters out but keeper Mirzapour is just able to get his right hand on the ball to swat it over the crossbar.

15. min.
Madanchi gets a long ball from midfield and beats the offside trap but can't get a foot on the bouncing ball, giving up an excellent chance on goal.

16. min.
Maniche volleys
Instead of a typical ball into the packed penalty area, Figo crosses to Maniche who shoots the ball straight out the air. Mahdavikia is able to head it out of danger.

18. min.
Hashemian is alone up front while the Iranian defense try to connect with him on long balls. Credit to the Iranians for pulling out of their defensive third to try and win the ball in the midfield. Portugal's chances are decreasing in quality.

20. min.
Nekounam booked
He'll miss the next match after a late foul on Figo.

21. min.
Deco gets past two defenders and send the ball forward but not in time for Pauleta to beat the offside trap.

23. min.
Ricardo tested
A free kick from Mahdavikia flies into the goal box and the Portuguese keeper is able to box the ball out.

26. min.
Are Portugal holding back?
Not much magic yet from the famous Portuguese midfield. They're not letting the Iranians through, but aren't creating many chances in the offensive third. Are Portugal just waiting or is this the best they have? Scolari, at any rate doesn't look happy.

27. min.
Ronaldo shoots over the goal -- his team mates in the middle of the field wish he had crossed the ball instead.

29. min.
Corner Portugal
Figo places the ball directly on Carvalho's head; his redirection misses the far post by inches. Mirzapour has some strong words for his defenders, who didn't even bother to jump to contend the cross.

31. min.
Iran gasp
Hashemian fires a ball that bounces off the post. A late offside call makes the point moot.

32. min.
Madanchi sees yellow
A rough foul on Ronaldo doesn't leave referee Poulat a choice, and he books the Iranian.

34. min.
Ronaldo heads in a Figo corner but Kaabi, on the near post, cooly chest the ball down and kicks it away.

35. min.
Ronaldo's next chance
The 21-year-old is aching for a goal. He has Portugal's next chance and shoots a rocket into the side netting.

36. min.
Figo rolling on ground
Figo gets mixed up in a rough, high-footed foul from Kaabi. He's holding is mouth.

38. min.
Figo washes out his mouth with some cold water and is back on the field.

39. min.
Ronaldo checked off the ball by Kaabi. The Portuguese whistle for a card, but Poulat isn't interested in their protests.

41. min.
Nekounam lays a ball back after beating the Portuguese defense, but his strikers were too far forward to get collect it.

42. min.
Miguel goes down clutching his left shoulder and ribs after a check from Nosrati. The Portuguese player needs some treatment on the field, but the docs are bringing the stretcher away.

44. min.
Miguel retakes the field with a bit of slower step.

45. min.
What a chance for Portugal
Just worried about Miguel, he makes a run from the back and is served the ball on a platter. Mirzapour somehow makes the save swatting it toward Pauleta who doesn't believe he wasn't ready to tap the ball home.

45+1. min.
Pauleta booked for delaying the game


90+2. min.
Three minutes of extra time in Frankfurt


45+2. min.
Figo called for grabbing Mahdavikia's arm in a sprint down the wing.

45+3. min.
Half-time tie between Portugal and Iran


45+3. min.
Iran can thank goalkeeper Mirzapour for keeping them even in the first half. The Iranian man of the half came up with a series of acrobatic saves to shut down Miguel, Ronaldo and Deco.

45+3. min.
It wasn't until the second half that Iran collapsed against Mexico. Stay with DW-WORLD.DE's live ticker for all the action from the second 45 minutes.

46. min.
The second half is on


47. min.
Miguel anticipates well and gets his knees in front of a long ball from Karimi, keeping Portugal on the attack.

48. min.
Deco takes his time getting up after getting hurt on a high kick that catches Madanchi in the head. The Portuguese player is booked for the foul when he finally gets to his feet.

50. min.
Rezaei takes the ball of Ronaldo's foot and breaks away down the wing. Figo draws him in and relieves him of the ball.

52. min.
Iran sustain attack
Iran's defenders are doing a better of job of connecting with midfielders and strikers on their clearances out of the back while Madanchi and the rest of the offense are also controlling well.

54. min.
Deco sends a looper into to Pauleta, but Kaabi is able to get just enough of his head on to the ball to keep it from landing in front of the striker.

55. min.
Pauleta heels it over
Another Portuguese is left to shake his head after a failed chance on goal. Pauleta's back heel goes high.

56. min.
Ronaldo shoot for the inner post after winning a yard from the defense. Mirzapour is able to parry the low shot away and Rezaei clears.

57. min.
Weak shot from Iran
Mahdavikia breaks loose on the right. The defense is tough but he's able to get off a shot that looses its power after hitting the inside of Miguel's leg.

58. min.
Mahdavikia crosses in Hashemian; it's impossible to tell if he mistraps the ball or intended to drop it back for a charging drive but it doesn't make a difference as there is no striker to line it up.

60. min.
Miguel beats Madanchi on the flank but puts the ball too far in front of him and it's picked off by Rezaei.

61. min.
Costinha booked
Costinha misses the ball and trips up Karimi to earn a yellow card.

63. min.
Portugal score!


64. min.
Figo takes the ball in from the left side and just when everyone thinks he's going to turn and shoot himself, he uses the vision that made famous and passes back to Deco, who doesn't waste a millisecond before rocketing it into the back of the net.

66. min.
Ronaldo takes his first free kick
Figo lets the youngster take a free kick that confuses everyone. Mirzapour isn't sure if it's a cross or a shot and half jumps for it keeping one foot on the ground. Portugal expect a shot and no one moves for it.

68. min.
Changes on both sides
Iran's Madanchi leaves for Rasoul Khatibi. Ivankovic also pulls Karimi for Ferydoon Zandi while Portugal decide Maniche should make room for Petit.

69. min.
Big chance for Iran
Just in the game, Khatibi sneaks past Meira. He gets a foot on the ball but can't give it enough spin to find the inside of the far post as both Meira and Ricardo were beat by the surprise Iran chance.

72. min.
Ronaldo wins a corner
Taking on two defenders, Ronaldo can get just a corner.

72. min.
Meira and Teymourian have words after pulling each other's jerseys in a footrace for a ball passed into space.

73. min.
Kaabi checks Ronaldo again and is shown yellow -- it's a card the ref could have given him for any number of fouls in this match.

76. min.
Just under 15 minutes left and both teams are starting to look a little harried. They know a draw here doesn't help anyone.

77. min.
Zandi sends a dangerously placed free kick into the wall.

78. min.
Zandi crosses to Mahdavikia who puts power behind a header Ricardo is able to save.

79. min.
Penalty for Portugal!
Figo goes down and Portugal are awarded an penalty kick. Ronaldo lines it up.

79. min.
Portugal go up by 2
Ice cold, Ronaldo converts the kick.

80. min.
Portugal change
Deco comes off the field for Tiago.

83. min.
The Portuguese fans, who had toned it down while Iran looked strong that beginning of the second half are coming back to life.

84. min.
Figo tries it on his own
Miguel sees his captain on the far wing and sends him the ball. The only Portuguese player so far forward, Figo goes at goal on his own but is jammed by two Iranian defenders.

86. min.
Golmohammadi fouls Ronaldo and falls badly on his own shoulder. The doctors rush onto the field.

88. min.
Golmohammadi slowly leaves the field his right arm massaging his left shoulder.

88. min.
Figo taken off for Simao Sabrosa.

88. min.
Before getting off the field Golmohammadi was given a questionable yellow card the foul on Ronaldo that did more damage to the Iranian's own shoulder.

90+1. min.
Portugal packs the back
Sitting on a solid advantage, Portugal move all their players into their own end to defend as the ref announces five minutes of stoppage time.

90+2. min.
Hashemian sees Teymourian on the other side of the field and hits his chest with a cross; the ensuing play is broken up by Meira.

90+3. min.
Mahdavikia's corner lands on Khatibi's head; but the sub sends the ball wide.

90+4. min.
Pauleta can't decide if he should fire away one-on-one with the Mirzapour or pass off to Simao. By the times he makes up his mind Simao is too far forward to collect the rebound off the Iranian keeper.

90+5. min.
Ronaldo almost puts a second goal to his name but is called offside.

90+5. min.
That's all for this match!
Ronaldo's offside attack was the final play of the game and the end of Iran's chances at this World Cup. Portugal take over at the top of Group D and secure a spot in the round of 16.

90+5. min.
Portugal on the way up?
An improvement over their performance against Angola, Portugal show they have the patience needed to stay competitive in physical matches. Still, coach Scolari will have to hope this was a step for his team on the way to top form -- they'll need to crank it up a few more notches before facing a second round opponent.