Pegah, Shirin-Faraz promoted to Iran Pro League

MNA – Football squads Pegah and Shirin-Faraz, of northern and western provinces of Gilan and Kermanshah respectively, celebrated their qualification for Iran Pro League (IPL) Thursday.

Playing in front of some 25,000 home fans in a packed Azodi Stadium in Rasht, Pegah struck two in the second half to beat Shahrdari, of southern Bandar Abbas port, 2-0.

Mohammadreza Mahdavi triggered wild celebrations among the partisan crowd in the 53rd minute when his low drive found the visiting side’s net.

Northerners were transported with joy six minutes from time as the referee Rahim Rahimi-Moqaddam awarded a spot-kick converted by Amin Mohtashami.

The first leg had ended in a scoreless draw.

In Kermanshah’s Enqelab Stadium, Faraz came from one goal down to beat Tractor Sazi, of Tabriz, 2-1 – the same result in the its sour away match.

Tractor scored the opener after 29 minutes through Farshidi, who duped his marker before sending the ball in through keeper’s legs.

But Ali Jalili gatecrashed the visitor’s party on hour mark and Babak Razi poured cold waters on 80 minutes on the Tabriz-based players and their manager Farshad Pius, former Persepolis and national striker, in the dugout.