Maradona starts as coach with victory

Updated: 09 May, 2009 • 0 • min read

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Diego Maradona kicked-off his career as Argentina coach with a 1-0 victory in a friendly match against Scotland.

At the Hampden Park stadium, where Maradona scored the first international goal, Argentina took an eighth minute lead when Carlos Tévez and Jonás Gutiérrez combined to set up Maxi Rodríguez for the first goal of Maradona’s reign.

Argentina almost increased the lead, with Javier Mascherano and Ezequiel Lavezzi both going close.

Four minutes before half-time, James McFadden even had the chance to level when he robbed Martin Demichelis in the area but shot straight at keeper Juan Pablo Carrizo.

Maradona spent most of the match huddled on the bench, his diminutive figure exaggerated by the outsized coat insulating him from the cold Scottish night.

However, Maradona had almost given the match a miss after hearing that his daughter Giannina had suffered complications with her pregnancy.

He had claimed before the match: "I am here with a lump in my heart."

Not good news for a man who almost died of cardiac problems four years ago.

Forward Sergio Agüero, who just happens to be the child’s father, was given permission to fly home to Madrid to be at her side.

Lineups:

Scotland: Allan McGregor; Alan Hutton, Gary Caldwell, Stephen McManus (Christophe Berra 75), Kirk Broadfoot; Scott Brown (Graham Alexander 83), Paul Hartley (Shaun Maloney 59), Barry Ferguson (Scott Robertson 59), Kris Commons; James McFadden (David Clarkson 67), Chris Iwelumo (Lee Miller 46)
Argentina: Juan Pablo Carrizo; Javier Zanetti, Martin Demichelis, Gabriel Heinze, Emiliano Papa (Daniel Diaz 86); Maxi Rodríguez (Jose Sosa 90), Javier Mascherano, Fernando Gago, Jonás Gutiérrez (Luis Gonzalez 71); Ezequiel Lavezzi (Germán Denis 75), Carlos Tévez

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