The furious match between Argentina and Iran saw all the action concentrated at the Iranian goalpost as the Argentinians tried over and over and over to score a goal, but 90 minutes went past agonisingly without a goal. Playing a purely defensive strategy, the Iranians compensated for a perceived weakness to score by keeping 8-9 men in the box or by the goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi, a man who created history with his superb saves quite similar to Mexico’s Ochoca.
The 26 year old has been second or third choice when he played with the Persepolis Football Club as he was only 16 and the beginning of his career, but has proven his talents by not allowing Nigeria to score this World Cup and by putting up a valiant fight against a decidedly better team such as Argentina. Only a man like Messi could have scored that goal at so crucial a time, and that too with great difficulty.
With teams like Iran not generally making it even to the Group Stages of the World Cup, it has been an incredible sight to watch his aggressive saves. From the 14th minute onwards, Haghighi is in full throttle as he saves goal attempts by Higuain, Aguero and Messi, to name a few.
The man is clearly talented and was supported by a team that played nothing but defence. But even if the Iranians were split between attack and defence, there are high chances that Haghighi would have thwarted just as many goal attempts as he did against Argentina.
And the ladies love him too : check out :
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