Saba Battery secure Hazfi Cup

MASHAD – Saba Battery keeper Asghar Karamohalli was the hero of the day as the Tehran side defeated Abu Moslem 4-2 on penalties to win the 2005 Hazfi Cup and join league champions Foolad in next year’s AFC Champions League.

In the shootout, the Saba stopper saved spot-kicks from Ferydoon Fazli and Nasseri, who ironically combined to give Abu Moslem the lead early in the second half when Fazli, who with 14 goals was Abu Moslem’s top scorer in the league, headed home Nasseri’s deep cross.

Now leading 2-1 on aggregate after the two sides drew the first leg in Tehran 1-1, Abu Moslem went to kill off the game and but were denied by some fine keeping by Karamohalli and the Sabab Battery woodwork.

With five minutes to go and against the run of play Robert Markusi leveled for the visitors to force extra-time. Neither side could add to their respective tallies during the additional half hour as the destination of the 18th Hazfi Cup would be determined by penalties.

Iran skipper Ali Daei, his former international teammates Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh and Mohammad Navazi, and Saeed Daghighi found the target for Saba Battery, while the only players to convert successfully for Abu Moslem were Mojtaba Jabbari and Anderanik Teymourian.