TEHRAN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Iranian press praised their soccer team performance in Saturday's World Cup match against Argentina and complained the "unjust" referee who ignored a penalty appeal of Iran.
Iranian press believed Serbian referee Milorad Mazic did not give Iran a penalty which if awarded could have been changed the encounter's result. Iran defended Argentina effectively during the entire game except for a deadly strike from Lionel Messi at injury-time.
Iran local newspaper Jam-e-Jam headlined "Argentina + the referee 1, Iran 0," while covering the news, and published a photo of Iranian forward Ashkan Dejagah blocked down in the box by Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta.
The Quds paper said "Argentina won because of the referee", while Iran daily lamented "Iranian stars: victims of injustice."
Though defeated, Iran still satisfied Tehran soccer fans who went on streets and celebrated the great show which the 7 Sobh daily called "the most beautiful display of Iran's football history."
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