TEHRAN TIMES - Naft Tehran defeated Esteghlal 3-2 in Iran’s Hazfi Cup quarter-final here at the Takhti Stadium on Tuesday.
Mohammad Ghazi put Naft in front three minutes into the game from a penalty spot but Jaber Ansari leveled the score for Esteghlal in 69th minute. The game finished 1-1 in the regular time but Esteghlal’s Behnam Barzay made it 2-1 two minutes into the first extra time.
Naft made a fantastic start in the second extra time as the team scored two goals in two minutes. Issa Alekasir scored with a powerful header in 106th minute before Mohammad Ghazi made it 3-2 for Naft two minutes later.
In Isfahan, Sepahan defeated Saipa 2-0 to reach the last four. Ehsan Haji Safi opened the scoring for the host four minutes into the game from the penalty spot while Rasoul Navidkia made it 2-0 in the 88th minute.
Elsewhere in Gachsaran, Tractor Sazi claimed a 3-1 victory over this year’s surprise Naft va Gaz Gachsaran to end its journey. Shahram Goodarzi gave Tractor Sazi the lead in the 18th minute while Farzad Hatami score the second goal 12 minutes later. Mohammad Ebrahimi scored the third for Tractor Sazi in the 77th minute.
Abdolhadi pulled a goal back in the 79th minute.
Naft will now face Sepahan in the Hazfi Cup semi-final while Tractor Sazi will take on the winner of Gostaresh Foolad vs. Zob Ahan.