Two late Iran goals condoned Wales to a heartbreaking defeat in Qatar, a result which means qualification for the knockout stages is now out of their hands.

Wales were nearly behind in the first half. However, Ali Gholizadeh's goal from close range was ruled out by VAR.

The key moment in the game came with just five minutes left of normal time after Wales goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey was sent off for a mistimed challenge outside his box.

Referee Mario Escobar originally gave a yellow to the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper, however, after intervention from VAR, he was given his marching orders.

Danny Ward was his replacement, but the Leicester City goalkeeper could do nothing to keep out Roozbeh Cheshmi and Ramin Rezaeian in the closing stages.

The defeat means Wales would need to beat England by at least four goals and hope the USA beat Iran in Group B.

  • Gareth Bale

Gareth Bale spoke to BBC Sport immediately after the game, clearly devastated by the result and how it came about:

"It's gutting, there's no other way to say it, we fought until the last second but it was one of those things, it's difficult to take, but we have to recover and go again."

"We have to pick ourselves up straight away, it's going to be difficult but we have one game left. We have to try and look at every positive, and still try and enjoy the occasion as well."

Speaking about Wales potentially qualifying, Bale said: "It's going to be difficult for sure, depends on the other game, and we'll see."

"The red card changes the game"

  • Rob Page

Wales boss Rob Page also spoke to the media after the game, expressing his disappointment to Sky Sports: "We'll bounce back and go again." 

"Every time they went forward they looked a threat. Before the sending off I wasn't happy with the performance anyway."

"We just couldn't get going in the game, and that really dissappoints me the most."

"This is a hard one to take, because of the stage we're on."

"That's not a true reflection of that team."

"They deserved that defeat and that's not like them."

Page made it clear that "if necessary we'll make changes to freshen it up" when his side goes head-to-head with England on Tuesday evening.