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IRNA - National midfielder Iman Mob`ali
deserved a pat on the back for steering the visiting leader Foulad toward a
priceless 2-0 win over popular Persepolis in the last 16th-week foul-prone
match of fourth Iran Pro League here Sunday.
The red-clad home team, which was supported by some 35,000 partisan fans in
Azadi Stadium, came close to the opener in the 26th minute when the nimble
striker Sohrab Entezari hit a left winger Alireza Emamifar`s superb cross
against the near post.
Persepolis midfielder Karim Baqeri`s trademark cannonball was defused by the
visitor`s in-form keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour on 28 minutes.
Mob`ali`s curling free-kick forced a spectacular dive from the reds` budding
goalie Mohammad Mohammadi seven minutes later.
Mirzapour dived four minutes from interval to palm away an inswinging drive
from forward Java Kazemian.
But it was the cool-headed Mob`ali, who had the last laugh on reds with a
perfect free-kick kissing the net in the 45th minute.
Persepolis, which needed a win to topple Foulad, was stunned one minute into
the second half.
Striker Ahmad Mo`menzadeh unleashed a sizzling 20-yard drive that froze the
reds shivering in the stands and dugout after rattling the woodwork, which
was collapsed a second later as Meysam Soleimani was first to the rebound
and found the empty net with a header.
Mirzapour`s blooper in the 61st minute handed the home side a good chance
for minimizing the gap but Kazemian carelessly sent the ball out.
Mob`ali turned provider on 72 minutes, leaving Mo`menzadeh alone with
Mohammadi but the striker was denied by the keeper.
The home fans were about to celebrate the opener one minute later when
Kazemian, who was well fed by an Entezari through ball in the box,
unbelievably kicked the ball out of the woodwork.
Foulad was deprived of the third on 79 minutes as substitute Nader Ahmadi
failed to head home a delightful cross from Man of the Match, Mob`ali.
The southerners retained the top spot on 34 points, five clear of
second-placed Zob Ahan.
Persepolis remained in the third place with the previous 28 points.
In other Sunday`s match, Mohammad Gholamin fired home in the 67th minute to
give the visiting Malavan a 1-0 victory over Fajr-e Sepassi in Hafezieh
Stadium in Shiraz. |
