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MNA – The 16-strong sixth
Iran Pro League Saturday started in different cities with eight wins.
Abu Moslem came from 1-0 down to celebrate a 3-2 victory over visitor
Persepolis in Thamen-ul-A’emmeh Stadium in northeastern capital Mashhad.
Once Abu Moslem striker Hossein Badamaki took the lead for Persepolis
with a spectacular diving header after 17 minutes, but the host
responded with three goals on 26, 34, and 62 minutes.
Substitute Faraz Fatemi minimized the cushion, heading home from close
range 12 minutes from time.
Holder Esteqlal was lucky enough to score a late 2-1 home win over
high-flight Zob Ahan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
The Blues scored the opener in the 26th minute when Zob Ahan defender
committed an unnecessary foul on midfielder Alireza Akbarpur and keeper
Abbas Qassemi failed to save right winger Mohammad Navazi’s trademark
shootout.
The Isfahan-based Zob, however, secured the parity three minutes after
the restart. Striker Mehdi Rajabzadeh hit a Hassan Ashjari curling
free-kick against the near post with a header and rattled the crossbar
with his second header, but it was his teammate Sepehr Heidari who
headed home the rebound.
With four minutes to go, the two sides
looked to have split the points, but a stroke of luck helped the home
team celebrate a victory.
Advancing fullback Piruz Qorbani sent a low cross into the 5.5-yard box,
taking a vicious deflection off Zob defender Majid Nurmohammadi and
finding the net.
In other six games, promoted Mes of Kerman handed the IPL-winning Pas a
shocking 1-0 home defeat while Sepahan edged past Malavan 2-0, Barq
overcame Rah Ahan 1-0, promoted Paykan conceded a 1-0 home loss to
Fulad, SAIPA saw off Fajr-e Sepassi 1-0, and Esteqlal of Ahvaz stunned
the visiting Saba Battery 2-0. |
