Daei Double Helps Persepolis Past Shamushak

Mehr News – National skipper Ali Daei hit twice to help his side Persepolis see off Shamushak in a 23rd-week match of the third Iran Pro League Sunday.

Playing on the rain-soaked field of the 100,000-seater Azadi stadium, western Tehran, the red-clad Persepolis took the lead in the 27th minute from the penalty spot.

Referee Farajollah Yasrebi was the target of the visitor’s players and manager Akbar Missaqian, who invaded the pitch as he rewarded the kick spot for a controversial handball.

The home team’s lead took just two minutes as Akbar Shokati’s low shot from just behind the area found its way through the crowded box to the net.

Persepolis came close to the second six minutes before the break when Ali Salmassi receiving a superb pass from Daei unbelievably steered the ball toward the near post.

The reds were too lucky to fall behind after the restart.

Abdollah Shah-Hosseini and Mohammadreza Khal’atbari hit the post and crossbar but it was Persepolis, which grabbed the winner.

Daei celebrated his own and side’s second three minutes from the time, heading home a curling pass from Ali Salmani.

The win helped Persepolis leapfrog Sepahan due to better goal difference, standing fifth on 36 points.

In other games played earlier, Pas was held by Fajr-e Sepassi 1-1 in Shiraz, capital of Fars Province, Fulad handed the bottom-placed SAIPA a 1-0 in Takhti stadium of southern city Ahvaz, and Abu Moslem and the visiting Barq struggled to a goalless draw on the pitch of Mashhad’s Takhti stadium.

The IPL leader Esteqlal of Tehran meets Paykan today and Pegah is to host the Isfahan-based Zob Ahan on April 8.