Tehran Times - Tractor Sazi has suffered another blow in the title race when they were hold to a goalless draw at home against relegation strugglers Machine Sazi on Friday.
Despite an offensive display by the host, Machine Sazi barely allowed Tractor Sazi to create chances.
In the73rd minute Tractor Sazi captain Mehdi Kiani was shown a red card as the hosts were reduced to ten men. Amir Ghalenoei’s men should have broken the deadlock in the 81st minute when the referee awarded them a penalty but Mohammad Ebrahimi wasted the best opportunity of the game.
Persepolis could extend their lead at the top to six points if they beat Saba on Saturday.
Elsewhere in Tehran, Esteghlal defeated 10-man Paykan 3-2. Paykan were reduced to 10 men just 12 minutes into the game when Siavash Yazdani fouled Esteghlal’s Ali Ghorbani who was in a one-on-one situation with the keeper.
Omid Ebrahimi opened the scoring for Esteghlal in the 14th minute with a wonderful free kick from behind the box. Seven minutes later Siamak Nemati leveled the score with a rocket long-range shot.
On the hour mark, Esteghlal’s Omid Noorafkan made it 2-1 with a deflected shot. In the 80th minute Ali Ghorbani scored the third for the Blues but it was not the end as Paykan reduced the deficit in the 87th minute when Morteza Aghakhan converted a penalty.
The six remaining games of the week will be held on Saturday as follows:
Gostaresh Foolad – Zob Ahan
Padideh – Saipa
Sepahan – Sanat Naft
Naft – Esteghlal Khuzestan
Foolad – Siah Jamegan
Saba – Pesepolis
Tractor Sazi v Machine Sazi Video