Persepolis Win Again

This week Perspolis defeated a Paykan team that has always given the Reds a tough game. 65,000 Perspolis fans witnessed another entertaining match from both teams as Perspolis won 2 – 1.  

Sepahan tied the lowly ranked Rahahn at home. While the 2-2 result was not impressive, Sepahan is preparing for their upcoming match against Kawasaki Frontale of Japan in the AFC Champions League.  

Esteghlal managed a much needed away victory against the recently promoted Shirin Faraz. Esteghlal was in charge of the entire match and should have scored more goals.  

Ali Daei’s Saipa continued to disappoint. A tie at home against the young and weak Zobahan is not the kind of result Daei can afford if he plans to compete for the championship.With four points on the board, Saipa is now in 13rh place.  

The surprise of the season so far is Malavan. After last week's defeat of Esteghlal, this week Malavan won on the road in Abadan where fans began chanting for the firing of their own head coach.

Coaches In Trouble

Pegah – It will not be a surprise if we see Pegah’s head coach fired if there is another loss next week.  

Sanat Naft – The team has an away win and four points but has lost their only two matches in front of impatient home fans.  

Zobahan – The coach of this usually solid team replaced all the veterans with young players. Sitting in the 15th place and playing poorly, could mean that the team's Georgian boss is on his way home.

Shirin Faraz – Serbian coach Yessij is in a shaky situation. The technical director is the former national team player Sharafi and it should not be surprising to see Yessij out and Sharafi in over the next two weeks.    

Results:

Perspolis 2 – Paykan 1;  Shirin Faraz 1 – Esteghlal 3; Saba Battery 0 – Fajr 0; Sepahan 2 – Rahahan 2; Mess 2 - Esteghlal of Ahvaz 1; Saipa 1 – Zobahan 1; Pegah 0 – Abumoslem 0; Sanat Naft 1 – Malavan ;2 Bargh 1 – Pas 1

Standings:

1: Persepolis      12      2: Sepahan      10      3: Malavan   8   4: Saba      8      5: Estaghlal      7   6: Bargh   7

Behind The Numbers

0 for 4 – Four games into the season, Pegah has yet to scored a goal. Their head coach is now on the edge.

6 and 75 – Mahmood Karimi of Sepahan has scored five times and also has an assist in 4 matches. He has been involved in 75% of all Sepahan goals.  

18 – 18 corners in one match should be an indicator of an end to end offensive and entertaining match. That is what took place between Perspolis and Paykan.  

68 not 75 – According to Iranian media, Japanese club Kawasaki’s representatives have objected to the size of the field of Sepahan’s stadium for the upcoming AFC Champions League. They claim the width of the field is 75 metres when it needs to be 68.  

Kaveh Mahjoob

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