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Tehran, March 13, IRNA -- The popular red-clad soccer team of Pirouzi
reduced the gap with its archrival Esteqlal (blues) Tuesday. Before an
attendance of over 10,000 fans in Azadi Stadium, Pirouzi defeated Tractor
Sazi of Tabriz in the 15th week of Iran Pro League to close in on Esteqlal
of Tehran.
In the 11th minute, midfielder Esmaeil Halali put Pirouzi ahead by a
free-kick. The matched leveled in the 69th minute when Farhad Aliyari of
Tractor Sazi unleashed a diagonal free-kick, kissing top right of the
reds' net.
Striker Sohrab Entezari whose two goals against Foulad of Khuzestan in the
previous week helped Pirouzi win 2-1, saved his side once again.
Three minutes from the time, Entezari rose to head home a perfect cross
from national midfielder Hamed Kavianpour.
Winning 29 points, Pirouzi is now at the second place of the table,
following Esteqlal of Tehran that leads the table with 30
points. The relegation-bound Tractor Sazi is at the bottom, winning just 7
points out of 15 matches.
In another match of the 15th week of Iran Pro League, Sepahan of Isfahan
hosted visitor Foulad of Khuzestan in Bahman 22 Stadium. The two teams
tied 2-2. Afshin Hajipour opened scoring for Sepahan in the fourth minute
and his teammate Mahmoud Karimi made it 2-0 in the 25th minute but the
Khuzestani side fought back and leveled the match. Striker Behnam Seraj
reduced the gap after netting two minutes from the break and then stunned
the host team and its supporters by scoring his own and team's second goal
in the 81st minute.
On the pitch of Mashhad's Takhti Stadium, the home team of AbuMoslem
defeated visitor Fajr-e Sepassi of Shiraz.
Iman Razzaqi scored the sole goal of the derby.
Striker of Fajr, Bahman Tahmassebi, was sent off in the 90th minute after
the referee showed him the red card. Zob Ahan of Isfahan crushed the host
team of Shiraz, Barq, 3-1. Falling behind in the 36th minute, Zob leveled
the match after
Jalal Omidian scored the equalizer in the 70th minute. Amir Vaziri put Zob
ahead 13 minutes later and Mostafa Salehi-Nejad completed the rout of Barq
in the 88th minute. Qassem Gholamzadeh scored the sole goal of Barq. Zob
Ahan promoted to the third place in the table from the previous fifth
spot, collecting 26 points.
The two teams of Malavan of Anzali and Esteqlal of Rasht fought to a 1-1
tie in Bandar Anzali. Rahmat Feizi-Moqaddam scored the opener for Esteqlal
that was responded by Pejman Nouri in the last minute of the first half.
Earlier on Monday, giant-killer Pas defeated popular team of Iran,
Esteqlal of Tehran.
In a 15th week derby played in Azadi Stadium in front of more than 10,000
spectators, Pas recruiting scores of former and current national players
took three priceless points by overcoming Esteqlal 2-1, giving blue-clad
squad's archrival, Pirouzi, the chance to reduce the gap by beating
Tractor Sazi 2-1.
Pas opener came in the 21st minute after national defender Javad Nekounam
headed striker Rasoul Khatibi's cross for Mohsen Bayatinia, who headed
home. Esteqlal was stunned in the 51st minute when Bayatinia's superb
pass put Khatibi in a man-to-man challenge with national keeper of
Esteqlal, Hadi Tabatabaei, who was dribbled past and Khatibi tapped the
ball into an empty goal. Receiving the order from the dugout for
attack, Esteqlal responded
but just once.
In the 63rd minute, national Sirous Dinmohammadi scored the consolation
goal.
According to Iran's Football Federation (IFF), fixtures of the 16th week
matches are as follows:
Sunday, March 17
Saipa vs. Malavan in Tehran's Azadi Stadium at 14:30
Pirouzi vs. Sepahan in Tehran's Azadi Stadium at 16:30
Tractor Sazi vs. Esteqlal of Tehran in Tabriz's Takhti Stadium at 14:30
Foulad of Khuzestan vs. Abu Moslem in Ahvaz's Takhti Stadium at 15:00
Esteqlal of Rasht vs. Barq in Rasht's Shahid Azodi Stadium at 15:00
Fajr vs. Paykan in Shiraz's Hafezieh Stadium at 15:00
Zob Ahan vs. Pas in Isfahan's Foulad-Shahr Stadium at 15:00
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