November 29, 1997 remains one of the most infamous nights in Australian sporting history, let alone Australian soccer history.
The MCG hosted the second leg of Australia’s 1998 World Cup playoff.
After drawing the first leg in Tehran 1-1, the Socceroos let slip a 2-0 lead in front of 85,513 stunned fans.
November 29, 1997 remains one of the most infamous nights in Australian sporting history, let alone Australian soccer history.
The MCG hosted the second leg of Australia’s 1998 World Cup playoff.
After drawing the first leg in Tehran 1-1, the Socceroos let slip a 2-0 lead in front of 85,513 stunned fans.
Despite Australia’s entry to the Asian confederation in 2006, the Socceroos have not played against Iran since 1997.
Iran only played on Australian soil for the first time since in a friendly against Iraq in Sydney last week.
Stan Lazaridis started at left back against Iran in 1997 and said the memories were vivid.
“I think it was the first time we got close to 100,000 people at a soccer match in Australia, so that was a big feat in itself,” Lazaridis said.
“The whole game, being the emotional roller-coaster in itself, was something else.
“For us, we let it slip ... so many things happened on that night and even afterwards it was surreal. Everyone was distraught.
“But I’ve got us winning Group A and them winning their group, so that could see us playing them in a semi-final.”
When we are old and grey, what will we look back on and wish we did differently? What memories will we cherish, what choices will we regret?
