Bukayo Saka inspired England to a positive start at the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals as they whipped Iran 6-2 in a Group B match at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, on Monday afternoon.
Iran were forced to make an early substitution when their injured goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was replaced by Hossein Hosseine in the 19th minute. Beiranvand was stretchered off the field with suspected concussion after he collided with England midfielder Mason Mount.
England continued to attack as they searched for an opening goal. They opened the scoring through Jude Bellingham’s header in the 35th minute.
Saka’s left-footed strike made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute following a laid off ball by Harry Maguire. Two minutes later, England showed that they were not done scoring as Raheem Sterling scored their third goal from Harry Kane’s pass.
The 21-year-old Saka, who plays for Arsenal, scored his second goal of the match after he was fed by Bellingham making it 4-0 in the 62nd minute.
Iran didn’t give up despite trailing by four goals and their efforts were finally rewarded in the 65th minute with a goal from Mehdi Terami.
Iran’s goal, however, didn’t dampen England’s spirits as they surged forward for more goals and they found the back of the net for the fifth time after Marcus Rashford scored.
Second half substitute Jack Grealish put the final into the Iran coffin when he netted England’s sixth goal in the 89th minute.
Iran’s trusted forward Teraji completed his brace after he converted a penalty on the stroke of full-time.
