Stagehand of God? Maradona wonder-goal inspires play

Former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona reacts during a news conference at the European Parliament office in Rome on Feb 14, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS
Former Argentine soccer player Diego Maradona reacts during a news conference at the European Parliament office in Rome on Feb 14, 2014. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - Diego Maradona's iconic wonder-goal against England in the quarter-finals of the 1986 World Cup has inspired a new Buenos Aires play.

The play - Cosmic Kite, Match of the Century - takes its name from the Argentine radio commentary which accompanied the goal by broadcaster Victor Hugo Morales.

Maradona's famous solo effort, which saw him weave past six English defenders in a mesmerising dribble from the halfway line before scoring, is often ranked as the greatest World Cup goal of all time.

The goal ultimately secured a 2-1 victory for Argentina in a match also made famous for Maradona's opening "Hand of God" goal.

The emotionally charged win came four years after Britain's 1982 war with Argentina over the Falkland Islands, which Argentina calls the Malvinas.

The new play is a comedy which takes place in a Buenos Aires apartment as three fans gather to watch the game - only for the wife of one of the fans to confess to having an affair with the two other supporters.

"The dictatorship was over, it was the start of democracy in Argentina," actor Jorge Vigetti told AFP. "After losing the war of the Malvinas, the England game was seen as a rematch." After beating the English, Argentina went on to lift the World Cup for the second time.

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