Messi Selamatkan Argentina, Pendukung Iran Kecam Wasit
Messi Saves Argentina, Iranians `Proud` after Argentina Heartbreak
Editor : Cahyani Harzi
Translator : Dhelia Gani
Teheran (B2B) - Para pendukung Iran terperangah menyesal setelah sebuah gol pada menit-menit terakhir dari Pemain Terbaik Dunia empat kali Lionel Messi membuat tim kesayangannya Team Melli kalah 0-1 dari Argentina.
Namun mereka juga merasa dirampok wasit ketika Iran tidak mendapat hadiah penalti ketika penyerang Ashkan Dejagah dijatuhkan oleh bek Argentina Pablo Zabaleta di kotak penalti, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
"Kami dirampok," kata Atieh, penonton Iran yang mengenakan busana tradisional Iran.
"Itu jelas sekali tendangan penalti" kata komentator televisi mengomentari siaran langsung yang ditonton jutaan orang di Iran.
Dia mencerca wasit asal Serbia Milorad Mazic, "Dia berulang kali merugikan kita."
Ehsan yang wajahnya ditutupi bendera Iran, menyambung, "Kami bermain bagus sekali melawan salah satu tim terbaik di dunia. Pada akhirnya kami hanya dikalahkan Messi."
Jimat Argentina itu membungkam Iran setelah 90 menit bertahan secara efektif dan melakukan serangan balik, lewat tendangan melengkung nan cemerlang ke sudut kiri atas gawang Iran.
Orang-orang di Teheran berkendara sambil membunyikan klakson dan mengibarkan bendera nasionalnya untuk mendukung timnas mereka.
"Ini adalah momen membanggakan bagi sejarah sepak bola Iran," kata Negar, yang seperti teman-temannya memplester wajahnya dengan bendera Iran.
Reza, yang selain bangga pada timnya walau kalah 0-1, mengecam manajemen buruk Federasi Sepak Bola Iran.
"Anak-anak kami sempurna. Memalukan mereka tidak mendapatkan persiapan yang layak," kata dia menunjuk hanya satu laga persahabatan menjelang Piala Dunia yang diadakan timnas Iran, dengan alasan kekurangan dana.
"Dan kini mereka bahkan tidak bisa memperpanjang kontrak (Carlos) Queiroz'," katanya lagi.
Teheran - Passionate Iranian fans held their heads up Saturday after a last minute goal from four-time world player of the year Lionel Messi, saw their beloved Team Melli lose 1-0 to Argentina.
But they also felt "robbed" after Iran were denied what looked like a clear penalty when forward Ashkan Dejagah was brought down by Argentine defender Pablo Zabaleta in the penalty box.
"We were robbed," cried an overwhelmed Atieh, dressed in Iran's national shirt.
"That was a definite penalty kick." said the State television's commentator, commentating live to millions of fans across the country.
He was not kind to Serbian referee Milorad Mazic: "He got on our nerves."
Ehsan, with a face covered in an Iran flag, chipped in: "We played wonderfully, and against one of the best teams in the world. In the end, we only lost to Messi."
The Argentine wizard shattered Iran after 90 minutes of effective defense and counter attacks, with a brilliant curling shot into the top left hand corner.
Some people in Tehran took to their cars, honking horns and waving the national flag, in a show of support.
"This is a proud moment in Iran's footballing history," said Negar, who like her friends had plastered a small Iran flag on her face.
Reza, while expressing pride over the 1-0 defeat, blamed what he termed as poor management at Iran's Football Federation.
"Our boys were perfect. It is a shame that they did not have a proper preparation," he said, referring to only a few friendly matches prior to the tournament, in part due to lack of funds.
"And now they can't even extend (Carlos) Queiroz's contract," he added.
