Ronaldo header seals Portugal's win

Cristiano Ronaldo controls the ball during a Group B match between Portugal and Morocco at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Moscow, Russia, June 20, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua]

European Champions Portugal beat Morocco 1-0 despite not controlling the game for most of the time.

Morocco failed to convert their chances and are pointless, becoming the first team to be eliminated from the tournament with a game left in the group stage.

The only goal came in the fourth minute when Cristiano Ronaldo charged into the box to bury his header and become Europe's top international scorer with 85 goals.

It's also Ronaldo's fourth goal of the tournament, putting him in the lead on the players' scoring board.

"I'm very happy. The most important thing was to win the game, to get the three points because we know if we lost we could've been out. We knew that Morocco would be trying very hard. It was a surprise because they really got the start, they were really going through a lot of moves and they were very strong. I managed to strike a goal and to make those three points so I'm very happy and it was beautiful to me," Ronaldo says. 

A lucky second half goal by Diego Costa helped Spain edge out Iran 1-0 in Group B.

The 2010 champions, Spain can reach the World Cup knockout stage with a draw in their final group game.

Costa claimed his third goal of the tournament in the 54th minute with the ball deflecting off his legs from an attempted clearance by a defender.

"What I can say is we have three more points. Yesterday we already said that this was going to be a very difficult match. We knew it was going to be hard. It was very complex game and there were some times in both halves that were quite tough. I think we started quite well with a great pace but there were many disruptions so it was very difficult to keep the pace. I think my men have really done what they had to do," says Spain coach Fernando Hierro.

In Group A, Uruguay had a slender victory over Saudi Arabia 1-0 and ensured that they and host nation Russia reached the last 16 of the World Cup.

Barcelona striker Luis Suarez scored the only goal at the Rostov Arena, sweeping in from close range on his 100th international appearance.

The result means Saudi Arabia and Egypt are both out of the last 16.