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GOAL - At the end of Round 3 of the Iranian
Professional League a familiar name, but an unlikely team, sits atop of the
table. Esteghlal of Ahvaz tie their namesakes from the Iranian capital with
nine points, but lead them in the standings thanks to a better goal
difference. The minnows from the Southern city of Ahvaz have accomplished
this playing solid defense, combined with just enough offense to give them
three consecutive victories.
The two newcomers, Mes and Peykan, sit comfortably in the middle of the
table with four points each, and bottom dwellers Fajr of Shiraz are still
looking for their first point of the season.
On Friday the three following league matches were played as scheduled.
Esteghlal of Ahvaz 1:0 Rah-Ahan
Ahvaz started the game with purpose and determination. They created a number
of scoring opportunities early on that were narrowly missed. The game was
scoreless until midway through the second half when Rah-Ahan defender
Ebrahim Karimi fouled striker Fereydoon Fazli in the area. Fazli stepped up
to the spot as he usually does for his team, and converted for the win.
Bargh 1:1 Abu Moslem
Coach Bijan Zolfagharnasab’s teams usually pride themselves in their
defensive organization and discipline. On this day, however, Bargh seemed
confused and disorganized in their own third of the field.
Twenty minutes into the game Abu Moslem capitalized, when Mohammad-Reza
Nasehi converted a Majid Nour-Mohammadi pass for the lead. Had it not been
for the heroics of their Georgian goalkeeper Miroslav Hail, Bargh would have
been trailing by more than just one goal at the break.
Despite a dominating first half, Abu Moslem started the second half sitting
back and trying to preserve the lead. That proved to be a costly tactical
decision as with less than 10 minutes to go a Robert Markosi cross found
Mohammad Ali Ebrahimian for the leveler. Things could have gotten worse for
Abu Moslem had an Ebrahimian header not bounced back off the woodwork in the
injury time.
Peykan 1:1 Malavan
Visitors Malavan unsettled the hosts by taking the game to them right from
the starting whistle. Ten minutes into the game Peykan were delivered a blow
when Mohsen Bayatinia received a straight red for elbowing Hadi Taemini of
Malavan.
Despite dominating the dominating the half, Malavan’s poor finishing
prevented them from capitalizing on their one man advantage. In the second
half, Peykan took the lead against the flow of the game. But Malavan got the
equalizer in the dying seconds of the injury time and salvaged a point on a
day that they should have come away with all three.
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