July 21, 2010: Lazio Iran 1-1
- Dag Jenkins
- 4 days ago
- 7 min read
Lazio survive Persian test
Heavy-legged Lazio at least manage to draw against the Iranian visitors
Also on this day: July 21, 2007: Lazio West Ham United 2-0. Lazio beat West Ham in the first encounter between the two teams with goals from Stendardo and Pandev
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 12th. They had started off with Davide Ballardini who had also surprisingly won the Supercoppa against Inter 2-1 in Beijing. He had then struggled and been replaced by Edy Reja in early February.
This season Reja had been confirmed. The main new additions to the squad were: defender Javier Garrido (Manchester City), midfielders Mark Bresciano (Palermo - out of contract), Álvaro Gonzalez (Nacional Montevideo) and Hernanes (Săo Paulo). The Brazilian in particular was seen as a promising signing.
Leaving were: defender Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City), Sebastiano Siviglia (retiring), midfielders Ousmane Dabo (end of contract), Thomas Hitzlsperger (end of contract - West Ham United) plus forwards Julio Cruz and Simone Inzaghi (both retiring).
Today was only Lazio’s second pre-season friendly. Four days earlier they had beaten local amateurs Auronzo 9-0.
The Serie A season was not to start until August 29 and the Coppa Italia debut would be on October 27.
Today's opponents were traditionally one of the better Asian sides along with South Korea and Japan.
Iran had participated in three World Cups (1978, 1998 and 2006). In the Asian Cup the "Team Melli" (National team in Anglo-Persian) had triumphed three times (1968, 1972 and 1976). The all-time top scorer was Ali Daei with 109 goals (and 148 caps). Other star players were Nasser Hejazi (1968-80), Gholam Hossein Mazloumi (1969-77), Ali Parvin (1970-80), Andranik Eskandarian (1975-78), Karim Bagheri (1993-2010) and Mehdi Mahdavikia (1996-2009).
In the current squad the main players were Ehsan Hajsafi, Karim Ansarifard and Rahman Rezaei (former Perugia, Messina and Livorno)
The coach was Afshin Ghotbi.
The match: Wednesday, July 21, 2010, Stadio Rodolfo Zandegiacomo, Auronzo di Cadore
A hot day in the mountains for this not so common game between a club and a national team. The small ground was practically full.
There was an upgrade in security for the Iranians with more police than usual for a summer friendly plus extra media interest with Al Jazeera also present.
Lazio were without defender André Dias and forward Sergio Floccari plus Hernanes who had not arrived yet (he would officially be announced on August 6).
Before kick off a minute's silence was observed to honour the passing of Lazio player Gonzalo Barreto's mother.
The game started with the Iranians a lot more energetic than the Romans. It was expected as Lazio had only started training ten days earlier.
In the 5th minute Nouri tried his luck from a distance but his shot was wide.
In the 13th minute the "Persian lions" scored. A hesitation between Guglielmo Stendardo and Stefan Radu allowed Khalatbari to unleash a low cross goal shot from just outside the area which beat Tommaso Berni. Lazio 0 Iran 1.
Lazio were slow and mechanical but in the 23rd minute had a freekick about 35 metres from goal. Cristian Ledesma went for a shot but the keeper punched it away.
In the 27th minute Simone Del Nero put in an inviting cross but there was no-one there to meet it.
On the half hour Radu was sloppy and lost possession and trying to remedy committed a dirty tackle which in a more competitive game could have earned him an early shower.
In the 34th minute Mauro Zarate showed his skills and set up Tommaso Rocchi but the Venetian was anticipated at the last second by Nouri.
In the 37th minute Iran had three chances in one but Berni was always alert.
Bad news for Lazio in the 38th minute as Rocchi hobbled off with a muscular injury to his left thigh and was replaced by Libor Kozák.
In the 40th minute Zarate had an effort saved with his feet by Rahmati.
Tempers flared in the 44th minute as Cristian Brocchi and Stendardo got involved in some pushing and shoving with two Iranian midfielders. There followed some rough tackles leading up to half time.
A poor first half by the Biancocelesti who were deservedly one nil down.
The Iranians made two substitutions at the break while Lazio continued in their original 11 for now.
Lazio looked livelier now. In the 50th minute Kozák went close with a header from a good cross by Pintos.
In the 60th minute Lazio made nine substitutions in one go!
Tension rose between the two sides and in the 66th minute Riccardo Perpetuini and Nouri looked close to a punch up.
Two minutes later Lazio had a huge chance. Perpetuini crossed a long distance freekick into the box where Emilson Cribari had timed his run well and with the inside of his right foot shot towards goal but a defender acrobatically cleared it off the goal line.
In the 71st minute the "Team Melli" made their third change as Mobali came on for Hadadifar.
In the 76th minute Lazio went extremely close again but Rahmati pulled off an excellent save on a long range shot by Zarate.
In the 78th minute Modibo Diakité went on one of his famous solo runs out of defence but after beating five opponents was not precise with his last touch, something between a shot and a cross.
Lazio equalised in the 82nd minute. After a scramble in the area, and an unsuccessful clearance by a defender, Mark Bresciano was the quickest to react and beat Rahmani. Lazio 1 Iran 1.
A minute later Iran made their fourth and last substitution as Rezai replaced Khalatbari.
In the 89th minute Lazio almost won it but, following another good run by Diakité, Kozak was beaten to the ball by Nouri. Final score Lazio 1 Iran 1.
A positive test in the end for Lazio. The Iranians were in much better physical shape than the Italians. After a sluggish start Lazio had played better in the second half, also helped by replacing almost the whole team. The negative fact was the injury to Rocchi.
Lazio would now have further friendlies against Vicenza, Belluno, Al-Nassr, Racing Santander, Levante and Deportivo La Coruña before starting their Serie A campaign away to Sampdoria at the end of August.
Who played for Lazio
Berni (60' Bizzarri), Biava (60' Cavanda), Stendardo (60' Cribari), Radu (60' Diakité), Pintos (60' Zauri), Brocchi (60' Scaloni), Ledesma (60' Bresciano), Mauri (60' Perpetuini), Del Nero (60' Matuzalém), Rocchi (38' Kozak), Zarate
Substitutes: Lichtsteiner
Manager: Reja
Who played for Iran
Rahmati, Nosrati (46' Zanidpour), Nouri, Hadadifar (71' Mobali) Khalatbari (83' Rezai), Hydari, Aghili, Hussain, Ashobi, Hajsafi, Norouzi (46' Ansarifard)
Substitutes: Gordan, Haghighi, M. Hussani, Omranzadeha, Ashjari, Maydavodi, Mizrapour
Manager: Ghotbi
Referee: Marcolin
Goals: 13' Khalatbari, 82' Bresciano
What happened next
Lazio finished 5th in Serie A and qualified for the Europa League. The Biancocelesti had an up and down season with 20 wins, 6 draws and 12 defeats.
Lazio fought for a place in the Champions League but a 1-2 defeat at Udinese three games from the end ruined their chances. The Friulani and Lazio finished on the same points but Udinese had more away goals in the direct clashes. The highlight was defeating Inter 3-1 at home while both derbies were lost 0-2 (albeit with three dubious penalties). Top scorer was Hernanes with 12 goals (11 in A).
In Coppa Italia Lazio got through two rounds (Portogruaro and Albinoleffe both 3-0 at home) but then lost 1-2 to Roma in the last 16.
Iran have since participated in three more World Cups (2014, 2018 and 2022). In 2018 they defeated Morocco 1-0 and drew 1-1 with Portugal while in 2022 they defeated Wales 2-0. They have qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Their current stars include captain Ehsan Hajsafi (AEK Athens), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Feyenoord), Saman Ghoddos (Brentford), Sardar Azmoun (Shabab Al-Ahli) and Mehdi Taremi (Inter).
Let’s talk about Mark Bresciano
Mark Bresciano was born in Melbourne on February 11, 1980. He started his career in the youth teams of Bulleen Lions in the Victoria Premier League. He debuted at just 15 years of age and slowly gained a positive reputation. In his third year he scored 4 goals in 4 games and helped Bulleen to the Victoria League grand finale. In 1997 he played in a tour of the UK with the Australian Under 17s. In 1997 he signed for Carlton, a new team in the Australian National Soccer League. The club managed to reach the finals but were beaten. He stayed for another year and also appeared in the Under 20 and Under 23 national teams. He played in the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship where Australia were knocked out in the first round.
In 1999 he moved to Italy and signed for Empoli in Serie B, together with his teammate, friend and compatriot Vincenzo Grella. He stayed in Tuscany for three years appearing in 88 games and scoring 19 goals.
In 2002 he moved to Parma in Serie A. He became an important player in Serie A and in four years made 145 appearances with 18 goals. With Parma, in his first two years, he obtained two 5th places and also reached a UEFA Cup semi-final in 2004-05 losing to CSKA Moscow. In 2006 he was bought by Palermo. He is the first and only Australian to have played for the Sicilians. In his first year the Rosanero achieved 5th place and a UEFA Cup qualification despite four manager changes. The same position was achieved in his last year too, even though due to injury he did not play much.
In 2010 he signed for Lazio. There was great curiosity and expectation but Bresciano did not really fit in. He only played 23 games with one goal in Coppa Italia. There was a lot of competition for midfield places and the Australian was never able to find playing continuity. In 2011 he signed for UAE side Al-Nasr Dubai and a year after with Al-Gharafa in Qatar, breaching the contract he had with Al-Nasr. He was fined and suspended for four months.
Bresciano played 84 games for Australia. He participated in the 2006 World Cup where Australia were beaten by a controversial penalty against Italy in the round of 16 and in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, where the Aussies were eliminated in the group phase on goal difference, and finally in the Brazilian World Cup of 2014.
Since retiring from football Bresciano has become a successful entrepreneur, growing medical cannabis.
Bresciano’s stay at Lazio was not memorable and it was a pity because he was a great player. Perhaps he arrived slightly too late in his career.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
2010-11 | 23 (1) | 20 | 3 (1) |
Sources
Comments