ST PETERSBURG: Iran´s famed defence again proved unbreachable for the first half of their World Cup Group B opener against Morocco on Friday as the African nation had much the best of the contest.

The two outsiders in a group also containing Spain and Portugal were relatively cautious in a game neither can afford to lose, though after Morocco fashioned a handful of half-chances they needed a good save to deny Sardar Azmoun just before the interval.