Iran had a last-gasp goal overturned as they just missed out on grabbing second spot in Group G - but a first 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 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 Iran 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 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.
Egypt boss Hossam Hassan played down concerns over Mohamed Salah's fitness after he was substituted during the second half.
"I talked to Salah and he said he's going to be OK, and it's not a big injury," Hassan said. "We still have time to talk to the medical staff.
"I think he will be back, and when I spoke to Salah he assured me he's going to be OK."
Hassan said Salah would undergo further assessment once Egypt returned to their hotel.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei criticised travel restrictions imposed during their time in the USA amid the conflict between the two nations, saying: "The host country treated us very unfairly.
"Had the host nation ​allowed us to arrive two weeks earlier, to be more prepared, we would have been in better shape, physically, mentally. However, they deprived us of ​that justice.
"I urge FIFA: ​don't let hosts treat players and teams the same way in future ​World Cups."
Iran have travelled from Mexico into the USA for their group games, but their time in the country before and after matches has been restricted.
