Iran has defeated the USA 2-1 in their World Cup Group F match in Lyon. Iran’s Mehdi Mahdavikia scored on a counterattack in the 84th minute, and Brian McBride replied for the U.S. three minutes later. With Iran dropping players back into defense in the second half, the U.S. controlled most of the possession and created most of the scoring chances, although the Iranian keeper was only occasionally tested. Cobi Jones won a free kick for the U.S. outside the area in the 48th minute, but Claudio Reyna’s shot was far too high. An Iranian counterattack two minutes later gave Mahdavikia a chance from just outside the box, but his curling shot went just wide past the far post. In the 55th minute, Zarincheh’s shot from a tight angle was saved by Keller, and Bagheri’s 25-yard blast shortly after that went wide. Ernie Stewart and Preki Radosavljevic came on as subs in the 58th minute, replacing Ramos and Wegerle, respectively. The U.S. won a series of three straight corner kicks in the 61st minute, but came up empty, with Dooley heading over the crossbar on the third. Reyna had an opportunity when a loose ball in the box came to him, but the first touch went up off his chest and his attempt to volley the ball home was unsuccessful. The U.S. won a free kick in the 69th minute, and Tom Dooley did well to get his head to the ball, but his lofted header was saved. Joe-Max Moore’s low shot from outside the box four minutes later went wide to the left. David Regis made a fine run from his defensive position just minutes later, and his volley from a narrow angle in the box bounced off of the near post. In the 79th minute, Hejduk had a superb chance when he ran in unmarked to try and poke home a flick header in the box, but his stabbing effort was saved by Abedzadeh. Five minutes later, Mahdavikia received a fine pass at full stride just inside the U.S. half on the counter, and stayed clear of David Regis as he dribbled to the corner of the box and then beat Keller with a driven low shot to the far post. Ali Daei broke away again just a minute later, and his shot was saved by Keller, but the rebound bounced forward and Daei was able to take another shot. Fortunately for the U.S., Regis was well positioned and cleared the ball off the goal line. Brian McBride’s diving header in the 87th minute pulled the U.S. within a goal. He received a ball on the far side of the box and dove forward from a tight angle. The ball just crossed the line before an Iranian defender stopped it. The Iranians protested that the ball had not crossed the line, but referee Urs Meier allowed the goal. Reyna had a final chance to equalize for the U.S. in stoppage time, but his well-struck shot from outside the box went straight to the keeper. With the loss, the U.S. has been eliminated fromt the World Cup. Their final match will be against Yugoslavia on June 25 in Nantes.