New Zealand twice held a lead in their World Cup opener against Iran thanks to Elijah Just, but failed to hold out for a win in Group G. The post Just frustrated New Zealand threw away leads after ‘special’ goals appeared first on SoccerNews.
Elijah Just was left "a little disappointed" despite scoring twice as New Zealand started their World Cup with a 2-2 draw with Iran that had BBC pundit Chris Sutton suggesting had "added a couple of zeros" on to the Motherwell midfielder's transfer value. The 26-year-old became the first Well player to score at a World Cup - and his country's top scorer ever at a finals - with two sublime finishes at Los Angeles Stadium. "It is a memory that'll last me for the rest of my life," Just said while paying tribute to captain Chris Wood, the 34-year-old Nottingham Forest striker, for setting up both goals.
Marko Stamenic became the third Swansea City player to feature in this summer's World Cup finals, playing almost the entirety of New Zealand's 2-2 Group G draw with Iran in Los Angeles. The 24-year-old midfielder was in the starting line-up for the All White's first World Cup appearance in 16 years, playing 92 minutes before being replaced by Nottingham Forest's Tyler Bindon in stoppage time. "I'm always thinking of him when I step on the field, whether that's for the national team or for Swansea," Stamenic told BBC Sport Wales.
The coach of Iran's World Cup team said it was ordered to leave the U.S. and return to its training base in Mexico only a few hours after opening its politically charged tournament by playing to a 2-2 draw with New Zealand on Monday night in Inglewood, Calif.
