Time Machine: Eusebio in Tehran

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, The day was Friday March 12, 1971, Benfica with all its star players such as Antonio Simoes (current Team Melli assistant coach), Eusebio (known as “black panther”) and co took on Iranian ace club Persepolis in a friendly match.

It was Eusebio’s lucky day as he scored that day.

During Benfica’s Tour of Tehran, they also played Pas in a friendly match where they defeated the home team 2-0.
The 1960s and 70s were decades where football royalties such as Lev Yashin, Pele, Eusebio, Beckenbauer would travel to Tehran with their club and play friendly matches with Iran national team or Iranian clubs. Hopefully once again Iran will witness such similar events in the future.

Here are the historic match details between Benfica and Persepolis as per Babak Faghir’s blog:

Friendly match
12.03.1971 Amjadiyeh Stadium(modern Shahid Shiroudi Stadium), TEHRAN;

Referee: Asghar Tehrani (Iran)

Benfica – Persepolis 4:0

Goals: Eusebio, Artur Jorge(2 goals), Nene

Persepolis: Aziz Asli – Ebrahim Ashtiani, Biyouk Vatankhah, Reza Vatankhah, Daryoosh Mostafavi, Ali Parvin, Homayoon Behzadi, Safar Iranpak, …
(Mehrab Shahrokhi and Hossein Kalani also played in this game, it is not known if they started the game or came on as substitutes)