Esteghlal Lose Their Chance to Move up the Table

Faraz Fatemi and Rajab-Zadeh

ISP- Esteghlal lost its chances of moving up the table, only managing a draw against Fajr Sepasi, in a game played at the Azadi Stadium earlier today.

In today’s game Rajab-Zadeh put Fajr 1-0 up after 63 minutes, when Esteghlal’s defenders failed to clear the ball in their own penalty box. Rajab-Zadeh’s weak shot from around the penalty spot ended up in the back of the net despite having 3 players between him and the goal keeper. Esteghlal managed to equalise after 83 minutes after Fatemi’s shot which was blocked by a Fajr defender looped over the diving keeper and ended up in the back of the net. The final result was 1-1.

After the game, the head coach of Fajr, Mr Peyrovani told the reporters: “This was a very close game. Despite losing 7 players, our younger players played very well, and I am very happy with them. We also should have had a penalty in this game which the referee didn’t see it.”

Esteghlal’s head coach, Pour-Heydari told the reporters: “I am not happy with my players at all. In the first half we had a lot of misplaced passes, and there wasn’t enough movement among our players. My players didn’t do what I had asked them and Fajr was a lot better than us.” He also refused to comment about the referee of the game.

After this week’s games, which all ended up as draws, Perspolis have kept their two points lead over ZobAhan. Foolad are third, a further point behind.

The Full week 7 results of IPL are as follows:

Azadi Stadium
13:30: Peykan (Tehran) 0–0 AbooMoslem (Mashhad)
A penalty kick was missed for Peykan by Ali Asghar ModirRoosta.

15:30: Pas (Tehran) 3-3 Foolad (Khoozestan)
Pas: R Khatibi, Esmaeili, and Bayati-Nia
Foolad: GolMohammadi (2), and Seraj.
Sharifi-Nasab was sent off for Foolad after 60 minutes.

Tabriz Takhti Stadium
14:00: Teraktor-Sazi (Tabriz) 0-0 Esteghlal (Rasht)

Hafezieh Stadium
14:00: Bargh (Shiraz) 0-0 Perspolis (Tehran)
Bargh missed a Penalty kick by Mansouri.

Anzali Takhti Stadium
14:00 Malavan (Anzali) 0-0 F.M. Sepahan (Esfehan)

Foolad Shahr Stadium
14:00 ZobAhan (Esfehan) 0-0 Saipa (Tehran)

Azadi Stadium
Friday, 15:30: Esteghlal (Tehran) 1-1 Fajr Sepasi (Shiraz)
Esteghlal: Faraz Fatemi
Fajr: Rajab-Zadeh

-- Ali Azim-Araghi (Ali.A)