The iconic Welsh Red Wall was crestfallen after their World Cup ecstasy turned to agony.
Wales have some of the most fervent support at this showpiece in Qatar but their team failed to deliver and are now on the brink of a group stage exit. Rob Page's side wilted in the blistering Qatar heat and finally succumbed in heartbreaking fashion against deserving winners Iran.
Revitalised Iran looked a far more accomplished side throughout and substitute Roozbeh Chesmi delivered the gut-wrenching blow with a powerful strike nine minutes into stoppage time. And the relentless Ramin Rezaeian then piled on the misery to leave Wales on the brink.
Page's men must now pull off a huge shock against England on Tuesday evening to avoid an early flight home in their first World Cup in 64 years. Plenty of Welsh fans who made the journey to Qatar have had their say on a dismal showing, but one supporter in particular has gone viral for comparing Iran's triumph to a legendary wrestling result.
The dejected Welsh fan likened Iran's victory to when iconic Iranian wrestler 'The Iron Sheik' defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship at Madison Square Garden in 1983. Sheik famously got Backlund with the 'Camel Clutch' finisher move before his title reign was later ended by superstar Hulk Hogan.
"I think for Iran, it's probably their biggest victory since The Iron Sheik beat Bob Backlund at WrestleMania," the fan told TalkSPORT. "I just think now we've got to go on and we've got to beat England."
Wales boss Page shared the frustration of his country's dejected supporters as their World Cup hopes were left hanging by a thread. Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were conspicuous by their absence, such was their lack of impact on a forlorn day for the two heroes who helped made this Welsh dream possible.
But Page refused to single out poor performances and insisted his whole team had an off-day in a result that is likely to prove terminal for the nation's chances of progression into the knockout stages.
"We weren't in the game at all," Page admitted. "You can carry one or two players if they have off days, but when the majority of the team are not quite at it, there's only going to be one outcome unfortunately.
"I'm disappointed, more because we fell well below the standards we've set in recent months that's got us success to qualify for the World Cup. If we'd have met those standards, we'd have been alright, but we fell well below that today, and when you do that in top competitions, you get punished."
