Persepolis leaves it late

IRNA - Persepolis snatched a late home victory over bottom-placed Shamoushak, winning the 19th week match of the fifth Iran Pro League 2-1 in Azadi Stadium here Friday.

Manager Ali Parvin arranged a depleted Persepolis lineup against northerners as striker Mehrdad Owladi had newly joined Al Shabab of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and fullback Karimi Baqeri had been sidelined by injury.

The red-shirted Persepolis opened the scoring after 12 minutes following a defending blooper. Forward Sohrab Entezari poked home a loose ball with a ferocious left drive.

Shamoushak blamed its hoodoo one minute into added time when Hassan Mazaheri's kick dangerously passed the far post.

The underdog, however, secured the parity on 46 minutes. The unmarked striker Mohammad Jabbarpour receiving a perfect pass from in-form Ali Azari behind the 5.5-meter box side-footed in.

Persepolis keeper Farshid Karimi deserved a pat on the back for not conceding the second in the 50th minute. Mohsen Youssefi evaded the offside flag, but he was dispossessed with a two-foot tackle from the goalie advancing beyond the box.

Striker Javad Kazemian shockingly failed to find the visitor's net from close range two minutes later and Ansarian's shot was easily saved by Shamoushak keeper Mahmoud Bahraini in the 82nd minute.

But Ansarian beat Bahraini from the penalty spot three minutes from time. Skipper Hamed Kavianpour spotted substitute Ali Alizadeh with a well-flighted cross in the area and the striker saw his header bounce back by defender Mohammad Mokhtari's hand.

Referee Rahim Rahimi-Moqaddam red-carded Mokhtari and awarded a penalty kick that was easily converted by Ansarian.

The win put Persepolis in the ninth place with 25 points and Shamoushak at rock bottom, 16th spot, on 15 points.