Eli Just Scores Twice in New Zealand's 2-2 Draw
eli just scored twice and New Zealand held Iran to a 2-2 draw in Monday’s World Cup opener at Los Angeles Stadium. New Zealand twice led before Iran pulled level, leaving both sides with a point from the match.
Just supplied both New Zealand goals, while Ramin Rezaeian and Mohammad Mohebi scored for Iran. The result came in a game that carried extra pressure because Iran’s campaign has been overshadowed by war, politics and protests, with hundreds of protesters against the ruling regime outside the venue.
Just and Wood drive New Zealand
Chris Wood helped create New Zealand’s early counterattack goal, and Just finished both of the chances that made Iran chase the game. For the lowest-ranked team in the tournament, that kind of start against Iran was the part of the night that changed the tone immediately.
Iran still found a way back. Rezaeian scored one of the equalizers and Mohebi added the other, turning what had been a two-goal effort from Just into a draw that New Zealand could not hold across the full match.
Ghalenoei tried to shut out the noise
On the eve of the game, Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei said his players would not pay attention to any of the hype. That line sat against a far noisier setting on Monday, when protesters gathered outside the stadium and the match unfolded under the weight of the wider political backdrop.
Inside the venue, the game also carried signs of that pressure. Some people showed anti-government emblems, and Iran’s anthem drew boos and cheers as the teams prepared for kickoff.
Draws stack up on Tuesday
The 2-2 finish also fit a wider scoring trend across the tournament window. The article said all four FIFA World Cup matches played on Tuesday ended in draws for the first time in 68 years, a run that put New Zealand’s point into a larger opening-round pattern.
For New Zealand, the immediate payoff was simple: a draw against Iran and two goals from Just. For Iran, the comeback kept the opener from slipping away after falling behind twice, but it still left both teams sharing the result at 2-2.
