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IRNA - Foulad of Khuzestan fought back to narrowly beat
the surprising package SAIPA in the fourth week of the fourth Iran Pro
League in the southern city Ahvaz Thursday.
The last season underdog, SAIPA, which has sprung to the top spot this year
with three consecutive wins, had a dream start in Takhti
Stadium as it took an early lead against the southerners. Amir-Hossein
Youssefi put the visitor ahead in the third minute steering the ball past
Foulad national keeper Ebrahim Mirzqpour.
Over three thousand home fans` hopes were dashed two minutes from the break
when Omid Sharifi-Nassab`s penalty kick was spectacularly
saved by SAIPA keeper Rahman Ahmadi.
But Afshin Hajipour triggered celebrations among spectators with the
equalizer he scored on 61 minutes and national midfielder Iman
Mob`ali sent the fans wild with applause five minutes from normal time when
he grabbed the winner for the home side.
ZOB, ESTEQLAL WIN, SABA HELD
In other fourth-week games, Zob Ahan and the capital-based
Esteqlal got perfect points but the newly-promoted Saba Battery was
held at home. Zob entertained the neighboring team, Barq, in Fouladshahr
Stadium, Isfahan.
The two sides fought to a scoreless draw but Sepehr Heidari netted on 68
minutes, inspiring Zob Ahan to a 1-0 victory over the Shirazi
team.
Esteqlal of Tehran extracted three points from Thursday`s
match against Pegah with a 2-1 win on the pitch of Shahid Azodi Stadium in
Rasht, capital of northern Gilan province. Gilaordi`s 25-yard free-kick
kissed Pegah`s net in the 25th minute, silencing the home fans. The
northerners heaped pressure on the blues` woodwork after the interval and
leveled the match 10 minutes into the second half.
Former Esteqlal striker Dariush Yazdani pounced home a rebound.
But Esteqlal forward Gholam-Reza Enayati canceled out the equalizer with a
late goal. The striker converted a penalty on 87 minutes.
Esteqlal reduced to 10 men in the 90th minute when midfielder Mehdi
Amirabadi was sent off by the referee Ali Khosravi for his
second bookable offense.
Saba Battery did not make it on its own field. Powered by
a handful of former national players, it was held by Esteqlal of Ahvaz to a
goalless tie in Shahid Derakhshan Stadium, Tehran. |
