Carlos Queiroz saved their best until last as they held Portugal to a draw on Monday, earning their fourth point of the 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign. Their best tally ever was still not enough to see them advance to the next round.

Team Melli set up in their usual compact method and battled for every ball. Once they had gone behind to a trademark Ricardo Quaresma strike, the Iranians threw everything forward and were rewarded with a late equaliser through Karim Ansarifard's penalty. The equaliser was too little too late as IR Iran needed all three points to advance to the knock-out stage for the first time in their history.

Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty before Portugal conceded an injury-time spot-kick as the European champions set up a last-16 clash with Uruguay.

Ricardo Quaresma curled in a trademark trivela goal on the stroke of half-time at the Mordovia Arena, but Ansarifard's late penalty dropped Portugal to second in Group B behind Spain.

Ronaldo won a second-half spot-kick after a video review but saw his effort saved, with the Real Madrid star unable to add to his four-goal tally at the tournament.

Portugal will face Uruguay in Sochi on July 30 for a place in the quarter-finals after ending IR Iran's hopes of reaching the knockout phase for the first time.

Ronaldo, scorer of all four Portugal goals in his country's first two games, forced IR Iran goalkeeper Ali Beiranvand into an early save after barging his way into the box.

Joao Mario should have put Portugal in front after a defensive mix-up between Saeid Ezatolahi and Beiranvand, but the Inter Milan midfielder blazed over.

The Official website of the President, in a message addressing the "Proud athletes and heroes of the national football team!", conveyed his appreciation to the coaching staff led by head coach Carlos Queiroz, and the players.

"You fought for the realisation of a great nation's dreams and made yourself proud with admirable self-confidence. You bring honour to the nation whose name is interwoven with heroism and championship and is grateful for its athletes' self-sacrifice.

"I wish all athletes of our country growing success in different athletic fields."

Beiranvand saved a second half penalty from Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo after Ricardo Queresma had put the Portuguese in front and Karim Ansarifard’s penalty ensured the Iranians took a share of the spoils.

But while the result ensured Iran finished the World Cup with their best-ever haul of four points from three games, it was not enough to earn the country a spot in the knockout phase for the first time.

Essam El Hadary, the oldest player ever to appear at a World Cup, marked his record achievement with one outstanding penalty save for Egypt but was powerless to stop a second Fahad Al-Muwallad's spot-kick, awarded for handball, at the Volgograd Arena.

But Saudi Arabia's Al-Dawsari's last-gasp winner secured their first World Cup victory since a run to the last 16 in 1994.

Mohamed Salah's Egypt still have not recorded a World Cup Finals win in three appearances, despite the Liverpool talisman's superb opening goal.

Saudi Arabia kicked-off the game with three changes in the starting lineup from the game against Uruguay, most notably, Juan Antonio Pizzi called upon Yasser Al Mosaileem between the sticks to make it three different goalkeepers in the Green Falcons' three fixtures.

Skipper Osama Hawsawi saw a third different centre-back partner as Motaz Hawsawi replaced Ali Al Bulaihi, who had himself taken the place of Omar Hawsawi.

The win was the country’s first at the World Cup since their famous 1-0 victory over Belgium – courtesy of Saeed Al Owairan’s wonder goal – in Washington in 1994 and came courtesy of Al Dawsari’s 95th minute strike, when he fired low across Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary and into the far corner.

It was no more than the Saudis deserved after a campaign that started with a disappointing 5-0 loss to hosts Russia before a much more encouraging performance in a narrow 1-0 reversal against Uruguay.

That left Juan Antonio Pizzi’s side playing for pride in their final game in Group A and they can go home with their heads held high thanks to Al Dawsari’s late goal.