Iranian PL: Round 20 Wrap

GOAL - Mustafa Denizli’s rein as the head coach of the Tehran giants Perspolis may be nearing its end after a series of unsatisfactory results which ended with a loss to Peykan on Sunday.

Peykan dominated the first three quarters of the game as they took a whopping four goal lead. Scorers for the visitors were Maysam Khosravi, Mohsen Bayatinia, Farhad Khangholi, and Mohammadreza Tahmasebi (Pen.).

Perspolis came roaring back with three unanswered goals in the later part of the game when Mehrzad Madanchi (Pen.), Faraz Fatemi, and Karim Bagheri scoring the respective goals.

However, time ran out on the Reds before they could net a much needed fourth.

Rah-Ahan 0-0 Saipa

Leaders Saipa could muster no better than a goalless draw against basement dwellers Rah-Ahan. After the match, Saipa coach Ali Daei accused his Rah-Ahan counterpart Akbar Misaghian of trying to influence the referees from the sideline.

In response to Daei, Misaghian did not deny the fact that he likes to toe the sideline during the game, and went as far as admitting that he gets certain amount of pleasure from playing “mind games” with the men in black!

This was Saipa’s second draw in that many games.

Esteghlal of Tehran 3-2 Saba Battery

The 35,000 Blues’ fans in Azadi stadium were treated to a very entertaining game following a week in which they saw their team disqualified from AFC Champions League due to administrative error by club officials.

Esteghlal took the lead thanks to an early goal by Ali Alizadeh. Hamed Hajati leveled before the half for his team that would be forced to play catch-up all day.

In the second half Ali Ansarian put Esteghlal ahead for a second time, but defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh tied for resilient Saba minutes later. Finally Amir-Hossein Sadeghi put the Blues on top for a final time, helping Esteghlal to close the gap with leaders Saipa.

Bargh 2-1 Sepahan

In Shiraz’s Hafeziyeh Stadium, visitors Sepahan took the lead when Mohammad Noori scored on a counter attack. Bargh, however, kept up the pressure and managed to score two quick goals with fifteen minutes left in the game.

The heroes for Bargh were former Team Melli midfielder Satar Zare and forward Robert Markousi.

Foolad 2-1 Mes of Kerman

Ali Abidavi scored early for Foolad, and Brazilian midfielder Fabio Hampel doubled their lead in the second half. Babak Hatami pulled one back from the spot, but Foolad held on for their first win in nineteen tries.

The victory was also a first for Foolad’s new Portuguese coach Augusto Inacio who has managed to turn the team’s fortunes around in a short few weeks. Foolad have now climbed out of the cellar but still remain in the drop zone.

Zob-Ahan 1-1 Fajr

Zob-Ahan had to host this game in the absence of their head coach Rasoul Korbehkandi who was hospitalized after having dizzy spells attributed to low blood pressure.

Hashem Beikzadeh put the visitors ahead in the first half, but Mehdi Rajabzadeh equalized for Zob-Ahan only a few minutes later.

Malavan vs. Pas and Abu-Moslem vs. Esteghlal of Ahvaz matches were postponed.

1: Saipa 43 2: Esteghal 39 3: Sepahan 32 4: Esteghlal of Ahvaz 32 5: Persepolis 31 6: Abu Moslem 31

Afshin Afshar
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