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MNA – The tense race between the capital’s
Esteqlal and Pas for the fifth Iran Pro League title became tougher as their
last week games decide the winner.
Against the run of play, the visiting
pacesetter Esteqlal took the lead against a dominant Zob Ahan on 20 minutes
of the 29th week in a packed Fuladshahr Stadium in the central capital
Isfahan Sunday.
The Blues celebrated the opener when striker Siavash Akbarpur spotted
unmarked top marksman Gholamreza Enayati, who made no mistake, finding the
net with a side-footed shot.
Esteqlal keeper Vahid Taleblu, whose woodwork was twice rocked by Hassan
Ashjari, denied midfielder Esmaeil Farhadi in a man-to-man challenge seconds
before halftime.
Manager Amir Qal’e-Noii tipped his hat to Taleblu for a classy save nine
minutes into second half, leaving Ashjari ruing.
Farhadi unguarded behind the 5.5-yard box was to blame for failing to level
the match in the 67th minute, unbelievably heading out a delightful
free-kick from in-form midfielder Mehdi Rajabzadeh.
Substitute Mohammad Salsali chilled the Blues, firing a dangerous drive
eight minutes from normal time.
Referee Massud Moradi stopped the game on 84 minutes when fans started
hurling different objects at Esteqlal goalie.
The interruption, however, bode well for the home team. Brazilian signing Da
Silva, who had a lackluster performance throughout the game, was first to a
Salsali cross in the goalmouth, sending in with three minutes to go.
Esteqlal, which had rarely played a cagey football during the league, made a
rare but venomous attack after the equalizer. Playmaker Mojtaba Jabbari
crossed the ball for midfielder Hossein Kazemi, whose volley landed inches
from the far post.
The Blues trudged off the pitch, hearing the news about the triumph of Pas
that fought back twice to beat struggling visitor Fajr-e Sepassi 4-2 in
Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium.
Pas victory helped the Police’s side trim the three-point gap to a
single-point cushion.
Under Turkish trainer Mustafa Denizli, Pas fell behind after 18 minutes when
veteran striker Mojtaba Zare’ beat helpless keeper Hassan Rudbarian from
close range.
The home side, however, secured the parity 12 minutes later through forward
Iman Razzaqi, who fired home a superb cross from midfielder Khosro Heidari.
Although Fajr was reduced to 10 men, it retook the lead in the 64th minute,
but its lead took 12 minutes again as fast-paced striker Arash Borhani came
off the bench to rifle home a rebound.
Pas was in the driver’s seat on 82 minutes, with Milad Mey-Davudi beating
keeper Hossein Ashna from behind the penalty area.
Fajr missed second player for a handball on the goalline three minutes
later, conceding a penalty converted by Kianoush Rahmati.
The dramatic victory left Pas in second place on 55 points.
In Friday’s eagerly awaited matches, Pas meets high-flight Saba Battery and
Esteqlal entertains lowly Barq.
In other Sunday’s clashes, Saipa held Sepahan to a 2-2 draw, Persepolis and
Rah Ahan tied 1-1, Saba Battery and Barq fought to a 2-2 stalemate, Abu
Moslem overcame relegated Shahid Qandi 3-1, and Shamushak was relegated with
a 1-1 draw against Esteqlal of Ahvaz.
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