Iran had a last-gasp goal overturned as they just missed out on grabbing second spot in Group G - but a first-ever progression to the World Cup knockouts could still be achieved after their dramatic 1-1 draw with Egypt.
Shoja Khalilzadeh's foot was spotted just ahead of play on the offside review after he had pounced on a rebound in injury-time to spark wild celebrations in Seattle.
Iran were inches away from grabbing a famous win again on 97 minutes, when Saeid Ezatolahi headed against the bar from a corner.
For all the challenges this squad have battled on and off the pitch at this World Cup, it would have been an incredible story if they had snatched automatic progression to the last-32.
Instead, Egypt - down to 10 in the final minutes due to an injury - clung on to finish second in Group G, with . Egypt now face Australia in Dallas.
There were tears in the eyes of some Iranian players at the full-time whistle, as exhausted players, coaches and fans from both sides slumped down to digest the action which had unfolded.
But Iran are still likely to progress as one of the best third-placed sides - unless both Algeria earn at least a point and DR Congo win in their final games.
A game which began at 100mph, with Mahmoud Saber profiting from errors from Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand, and Ramin Rezaeian slamming in an equaliser soon after Mehdi Taremi's penalty was saved, delivered right until the final kick. Yet, there will be more twists to come for both Egypt and Iran at this World Cup.
5: GOAL! Mahmoud Saber fires through Alireza Beiranvand's legs after the keeper pushed Mohamed Salah's deflected shot into his path.
12: PENALTY SAVED! Mostafa Shobeir goes the right way to stop Mehdi Taremi's penalty after Mohamed Abdelmonem kicked the Iran captain in the box.
14: GOAL! Shobeir brilliantly stops Milad Mohammadi's shot but Ramin Rezaeian is there to slam in the rebound from a tight angle.
34: OVER! Rezaeian fires over the bar from a good opportunity inside the box to add to his equaliser.
45: CLOSE! Khalilzadeh heads narrowly wide as Iran push for a second just before half-time.
49: SHOT! Good play from Mohamed Salah to find Trezeguet in the box but his shot is straight at Beiranvand.
57: SUB! Salah is replaced with less than an hour on the clock. Resting the captain for the knockouts? He immediately gets some ice for his hamstring.
89: OFF THE BAR! Taremi rises to meet their first corner of the night and nods against the woodwork - but a foul is given for Shobeir from Mohammadi's challenge. Would VAR have overturned it?
90+3: GOAL RULED OUT! Khalilzadeh's goal is scrubbed out after he is judged to be just offside when Mohammadi's shot is blocked.
90+7: BLOCK! Yasser Ibrahim throws himself in the way of Rezaeian's goal-bound blast from inside the box.
90+7: OFF THE BAR! Saeid Ezatolahi meets the cross from the resulting corner but heads against the bar.
Your Site' Peter Smith:
Iran were granted permission to travel from their Mexico base to Seattle two days before this final Group G game with Egypt. It was a marginal loosening of the strict rules which have provided obstacles to the Iran national at this World Cup, amid the context of the conflict with USA in the Middle East.
But the boos during the national anthem from Iranians in the stands in protest at the regime in their homeland was a reminder this is a team in a situation like no other. For them to have been inches away from a famous win in the final moments of this match should not be underplayed.
A first-ever appearance in the World Cup knockouts can still be achieved, with their third-place finish likely to be enough. The fight, spirit and moments of quality the Iran players have shown in spite of all the challenges they've faced deserves that reward.
Their response to Egypt's early opener and Mehdi Taremi's subsequent penalty miss showed big character. So did their late surge, when they had looked out on their feet towards the end of the second half and seemingly weighing up whether to settle for a point. They pushed for a dramatic winner - and so nearly got it.
