Iran secured a crucial three points against Wales on Friday by scoring twice in stoppage time at the Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium in Doha.

After a scoreless first half, Iran controlled play in the second, with Team Melli striking the crossbar twice within 10 seconds.

In the 51st minute, Sardar Azmoun hit the right-hand post after receiving a fantastic diagonal pass, and then Ali Gholizadeh beat the flying Wayne Hennessey with an incredible long-distance curler that hit the left-hand post.

Hennessey was shown the red card in the 84th minute after denying Mehdi Taremi a great opportunity to score.

Substitute Rouzbeh Cheshmi finally scored with a rocket in the 98th minute, and Ramin Rezaeian scored from outside the penalty area in the 99th minute.

All eyes were on whether Iran's players would sing their national anthem four days after remaining silent to distance themselves from their government.

Some of the players were observed mouthing rather than singing the national anthem, and a shift in strategy occurred when it became apparent that they could face repercussions.

Mehdi Chamran, the head of the Tehran municipal council, stated earlier this week that the government will take action "Never permit anyone to offend our national song or flag. The history of Iranian civilization spans several thousand years, making it as old as the combined histories of European and American civilisations."