Persepolis and Daei defend their trophy

Finally Persepolis claimed the Hazfi trophy and the much sought-after ticket to Asia. But the story of the day was Ali Daei’s vindication as the coach who was beleaguered throughout the season (this is not saying he didn’t commit any mistakes himself) and by successfully defending his last year’s cup-winning championship he becomes the first coach to have done so in Iran’s Hazfi competition. This only increases his stance in the club and subsequently, reduces the power and influence of Habib Kashani who apparently became Daei’s antagonist in the club and was an outright critic of him as the season came to a close.


The game itself wasn’t much to talk about and certainly didn’t reproduce the bombastic excitement of the first leg in Azadi. Malavan, much like the first leg, came out very aggressive and attacked Persepolis’ goalmouth in waves. And Persepolis was lucky not to concede on a couple of occasions while Oladi was found mere centimeters short of connecting with the ball to tap in a goal. However, Oladi did score an early goal and kept Anzali-chis’ hopes up for the rest of the match. The second half was even less exciting and both teams went through the motions, peppered with some time wasting done by Persepolis’ keeper, Haghighi.

The post game celebrations, as is the tradition in Iran, was as chaotic and embarrassing as ever with rush of fans and media personnel onto the pitch which usually adds to the commotion and often ends in damaging or breaking of the trophies! I long for the day we see a semblance of a decent trophy ceremony in Iran!

I guess on a favorable note for Daei, Kashani resigned from his post of "temporary" care-taker of the club, which should pave the way for Daei's continued work at Persepolis the following season. But hey, this is Iran and just about anything is possible.

So, Persepolis joins its arch rivals Sepahan, Esteghlal and Zob-Ahan as Iran’s representatives in 2011’s Asian Champions League. Justice done? I leave that to the fans to decide for themselves. But given the current news in transfer market and customary “aid” by Iran’s physical education dept., I still have hope that these 4 teams would be able representatives of our football in Asia.

Persepolis has one hand on the cup

The first leg of the cup final between two traditional powerhouses, Persepolis and Malavan was a cracker of a game and saw plenty of goals and action that lived up to its cup-final billing. Malavan, the guest team came out of the locker room already running and raring to go and took the game to Persepolis. In fact they were clearly the better team in the first half while the stadium was packed with over 65,000 red fans. Oladi, Nozhati and Nouri were in spectacular form and were ably supported by the silky skills of the young Mosalman. They were paid in gold for their gutsy attacking football in scoring the first goal. But having a man sent off late in the half must have thrown the wrench in Poorgholami, Malavan’s coach’s strategy. However, they were given a respite as a former Malavan star, Mazyar Zareh scoffed the penalty and the home team, under tremendous pressure, went into the rest period a goal behind.

The start of the second half provided a vindication Persepolis efforts and they equalized with only 2 minutes into the half. Then Mohamad Nouri’s deft control and shot saw the now 70,000+ fans in the stadium erupt and literally brought the house down with the best goal of the match in my opinion. But that wasn’t the end of the action as Malavan stepped up their game and eventually equalized through a well placed header by the ever impressive Nozhati … not exactly the tallest player on the pitch, by the way.

A man up, and needing at least a couple of extra goals to take to the very difficult away game to Anzali and I was surprised at how Ali Daei stuck to his 4-2-3-1 formation, no matter what. Although Nowroozi and later, Mohamad Nouri’s penalty saved Daei’s blushes, at the time when Malavan saw a second man get the dreaded red card (and deservedly so too). So the first leg ends with a 4-2 score-line and a 9-man Malavan team and promise of more action in Anzali. I was highly impressed with Pejman Nouri and especially Oladi who were a constant thorn in the side of the reds and never allowed their defense line to breath easy. Even when Malavan was a man short.

But at this juncture, I really wonder just what it takes to force Daei to change his system and formation from the lone forward line up. He has shown to be quite adamant about this formation no matter if his team is up or behind, no matter in a home game or an away one, no matter if he is a man down or two men up! This reminds me of one of the most frustrating Team Melli games in recent years when we played the Saudis at Azadi stadium and he stuck to the lone forward formula even after we conceded the equalizer after Shoajei’s goal. And true to form, we still played with a single forward even when we went a goal behind!

Aside from my vehement opposition to the 4-2-3-1 system that I believe does not suit our football and football players, I must question Mr. Daei about the need for variation and flexibility in tactics and formation that is warranted when facing a variety of occasions, circumstances and needs for a game of football. I mean ‘one solution for all problems’ is hardly supportable. Perhaps Daei needs to work on his flexibility as he matures as a great coach.