Srinagar, June 28 -- Srinagar - Iran's bid to reach the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time ended in agonising fashion on Saturday after a controversial VAR decision and dramatic results elsewhere combined to eliminate Team Melli despite an unbeaten group-stage campaign.

Iran finished third in Group G with three points from three draws against New Zealand, Belgium and Egypt but narrowly missed out on one of the eight places reserved for the best third-placed teams in the expanded 48-team tournament.

The decisive blow came in two acts.

First, defender Shoja Khalilzadeh thought he had scored a dramatic stoppage-time winner against Egypt in Seattle that would have secured automatic qualification. Wild celebrations erupted amo...