MNA – Esteqlal celebrated a 2-1 win over Pas in the last midseason derby of
the sixth Iran Pro League in an empty Azadi Stadium Friday.
The two sides played a spiritless football in the first half and a little
better game after the restart.
Right winger Mohammad Navazi was key to Esteqlal badly-needed victory. Two
of skipper Navazi’s curling crosses were headed home.
Morteza Hashemizadeh rose six minutes into second half to put Esteqlal ahead
with a header.
Pas, however, scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 57th minute.
Defender Amir-Hossein Sadeqi was judged by referee Khodadad Afsharian to
have brought down striker Abbas Aqaii who himself converted the spot-kick.
Hashemizadeh should have doubled his own and Blues’ scoring on 62 minutes,
heading the ball above the crossbar.
Esteqlal celebrated the winner in the 68th minute when the advancing
defender Piruz Qorbani’s header found the net after being deflected by
keeper Hassan Rudbarian.
The victory helped second-placed Esteqlal narrow the gap with pacesetter
SAIPA that failed to secure its two-goal lead and was held by promoted Mes
to a 2-2 draw in the southeastern capital Kerman.
SAIPA has 34 points, four more than the Blues’, and the third-placed
Persepolis has collected 25 points.
Persepolis beat home side Zob Ahan 3-2 in Isfahan Thursday.
In other Friday’s games, Saba Battery and Sepahan struggled to a scoreless
tie, Fajr-e Sepassi beat Paykan 1-0, and Malavan saw off Barq 2-1.
Rah Ahan and Abu Moslem also split the points with a scoreless draw
Thursday.
The derby between Fulad and Esteqlal of Ahvaz, due to President Mahmud
Ahmadinejad’s visit to southern Khuzestan Province, was rescheduled and the
two teams meet Saturday.
