Nathan Ngoy sent off as 10-man Belgium held by Iran

Romelu Lukaku challenges for the ball against Saeid Ezatolahi. Picture: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Belgium had defender Nathan Ngoy sent off as Iran held firm in a 0-0 World Cup draw in Los Angeles.

Ngoy was dismissed after 66 minutes when he carelessly lost control of the ball and stopped Mehdi Taremi bearing down on the Red Devils’ goal.

The stalemate means both sides have drawn two games and will have everything to play for in the final round of Group G matches.

Iran weathered early pressure as Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne went close before posing serious questions of their own.

Thibaut Courtois did well to push away Hossein Kanani’s effort and Iran then found the net with an inventive free-kick.

Ehsan Hajisafi shaped to shoot from 25 yards but instead played a pass to Taremi, who made a gap between the wall and a defender and rolled the ball past Courtois.

Iran’s joy was cut short by a VAR check that showed Taremi was marginally offside.

Courtois came to Belgium’s rescue again in the second half by denying the lively Taremi, while Alireza Beiranvand made two excellent saves from Maxim De Cuyper to secure a crucial point.