Badamaki gives 10-man Reds last-gasp win over Blues

MNA – In-form striker Hossein Badamaki celebrated a stoppage-time winner to give the 10-man red-shirted Persepolis a 3-2 victory over Ahvaz-based blue-clad Esteqlal here Friday.

Supported by some 70,000 white-hot fans in the Azadi Stadium, Persepolis drew the first blood a quarter after the kickoff, with rejuvenated skipper Karim Baqeri unleashing a sizzling drive past the visitor’s keeper Nasser Salari.

But the boisterous aficionados were silenced seven minutes later when Esteqlal forward Milad Maydavudi cleared marker Pedjman Nuri before beating goalie Hassan Rudbarian with a side-footed angled shot from close range.

The home side should have retaken the lead on 27 minutes through striker Faraz Fatemi whose point-blank header was saved by Salari.

Rudbarian saved the Reds one minute later, sending a Maydavudi lob over the bar with his fingertips.

Persepolis, however, sent the fans wild with applause four minutes before the break as Badamaki headed a Baqeri perfect cross over the advancing Salari’s hands.

Esteqlal upped the tempo to salvage a draw, leading to the expulsion of Persepolis fullback Mohammad Nosrati who pressed the self-destruct button by bodychecking Fereydun Bigdeli behind the area in the 70th minute.

The situation went from bad to worse for the Reds three minutes later when Mostafa Haqipur beat Rudbarian with a powerful low drive just from behind the box.

After the equalizer, Persepolis put the visitor under greater pressure, extracting a sweet victory in the dying moments through “Man of the Match” Badamaki whose volley kissed the net.

The dramatic win gave pacesetter Persepolis 24 points in the 10th week of the seventh Iran Pro League.

In other Friday’s games, Esteqlal of Tehran overcame Pegah 1-0, San’at Naft saw off holder SAIPA 2-0, Abu Moslem edged past Zob Ahan 3-2, Barq and Shirin Faraz tied 1-1, and Rah Ahan and Moqavemat-e Sepassi split the points with a 1-1 draw.

In Thursday’s matches, Sepahan defeated Malavan 3-2, Mes celebrated a 1-0 win over Saba Battery, and Paykan beat Pas of Hamedan 2-1.