Russia succumbed to their second consecutive defeat in friendly fixtures losing 1-0 to Iran in Dubai. Team Melli kept the European stars quiet throughout the game and Dick Advocaat's men failed to hit the target with the best chances presented to them.
Russia were out to prove a point after a disappointing defeat on home soil against Belgium last time out in a friendly and for many of the players this was a serious pre-season warm up but Iran were persistent from back to front and got their award in the final minute of normal-time; Mohammad Reza Khalatbari finishing past Igor Akinfeev from close range. The forward received his second yellow card for his celebration but his side saw out the final few minutes for a memorable victory.
Dick Advocaat played a fairly unexperimental side using the partnership between Igor Denisov and Konstantin Zhyryanov at club level as the base of the squad in the middle of the park.
The Sbornaya, in bright red, started well with Vladimir Bystrov and Alexandr Kerzhakov causing problems for Iran. A nice pass from captain Andrei Arshavin released Kerzhakov inside the box but the Zenit striker slightly rushed his shot and blazed the ball over the upright.
Russia were almost caught out in defence down the left, two-on-one at the back with more support arriving for Iran, a loose pass was poked away Dmitri Torbinsky to prevent an early chance.
Revenge was almost immediate as chance after chance piled up for the reds, a nice move involving Torbinsky and Zhyryanov saw the latter fire a shot palmed out to Bystrov, but heroic defending by Hadi Aghili blocked out the winger's shot when he looked odds on to score.
A free-kick from youngster Ehsan Hajsafi then whistled past Igor Akinfeev's left post from 25-yards but the CSKA Moscow 'keeper looked confident it was off target.
Advocaat's army were teasing Mehdi Rahmati's goal but attempted to finish every move off in style rather than testing the Iranian glovesman.
A free-kick for Russia, which Kerzhakov slammed on target but was saved, led straight to a counter attack but Pejman Nouri really should have done better with a scuffed shot.
The Europeas were starting to settle into their new system with just over an hour played Diniyar Bilyaletdinov stinging the hands of Rahmati from twenty-yards but Iran were still finding space to attack.
As time ticked away in Dubai, the game lacked movement and invention from both sides, with Andrei Arshavin disappointing in a central role behind the lone striker, and Russia were made to pay. With the match in the final minute Reza Khalatbari collected the ball on the left of the box and dummied, twisted and cut inside three defenders before lashing a shot high into the net. The Iran forward removed his shirt in jubilation and was shown a second yellow card.
However, Iran saw out the final minutes of the game to give Advocaat a headache and Iran a real boost.
Iran's lineup: Rahmati - Heydari, Aghily, Hosseini, Hajsafi - M. Nouri, Teymourian, Hadadifar (90' Mobali) - Khalatbari, Gholami (52' Gholami), Afshin (64' Rezaei)
Bookings: Khalatbari - Pavlyuchenko
Suspension: Khalatbari (90' second yellow)