Squandering Esteqlal, Sepahan Squeeze Into League Cup Final

MNA – Esteqlal of Tehran missed a handful of scoring chances to find the back of SAIPA’s net twice and Sepahan beat Zob Ahan on penalties, both advancing to the League Cup final Sunday. 
The blue-clad Esteqlal had a lackluster performance in the first half, giving SAIPA enough time and space to dominate the game in front of over 8,000 fans in Azadi stadium in western Tehran.

Seven minutes from the halftime, Ali Karimi who collected a low pass from national midfielder Mahdi Amirabadi in the area hit the ball against the blues’ near post.

SAIPA celebrated its goal on 47 minutes when Esteqlal’s shaven-head midfielder Alireza Mansurian headed home an Amir-Hushang Sharifinia corner.

The situation was exacerbated for Esteqlal when the blues squandered three chances in six minutes.

Striker Ali Samereh who was well fed by Davud Seyyed Abbassi unbelievably sent the ball out of the empty net in the 61st minute.

Farzad Majidi dribbled past three SAIPA players in an eye-catching solo effort two minutes later to meet keeper Ashkan Namdari but he poured cold water on blues in the dugout and stands, firing the ball wide from the far post.

Gholamreza Enayati did not manage to score either on 67 minutes when his kick from close range was deflected by SAIPA defender.

But at last Esteqlal leveled the match in the 73rd minute. Abbassi’s free-kick found Majidi on the touchline and his header was steered home with another header by midfielder Yadollah Akbari.

SAIPA was stunned three minutes later by substitute Alireza Vahedi-Nikbakht who grabbed the winner.

In another semifinal derby, Sepahan overcame Zob Ahan 6-5 on shootouts in Naqsh-e Jahan stadium in Isfahan, central Iran.

The two sides fought to a 1-1 draw in the normal and extra time.

Rassul Khatibi took an early lead for Sepahan, netting in the eighth minute but Zob scored a late equalizer, securing the parity two minutes into the injury time of the second half.