Paykan fights back to beat Blues

MNA – Paykan came from two goals down to give Esteqlal, known as Blues, a 3-2 defeat in a 12th week derby of the 7th Iran Pro League here Wednesday.

Esteqlal had a good start as it celebrated the opener in the 12th minute through right winger Mohammad Navazi who beat keeper Hossein Ashna with a powerful low drive.

Fans in the Azadi Stadium were transported with joy 10 minutes later when fast-paced striker Arash Borhani raced to a playmaker Mojtaba Jabbari through ball before making it 2-0 with a chip.

But Paykan had Maysam Khosravi to thank for two goals he scored in the last six minutes of the first half. The striker minimized the gap with a ferocious 20-yard left kick four minutes from the interval and celebrated the equalizer with a low left shot two minutes deep into stoppage time.

Esteqlal should have retaken the lead on 63 minutes, but Borhani squandered the chance in a man-to-man challenge.

The Blues paid for it as the header of Paykan’s Ibrahim Torre in the 79th minute was flagged “goal”.

Paykan was reduced to 10 men six minutes from normal time as Mojtaba Sarassiabi received his marching orders from the referee Mahmud Rafiei for his second bookable offense.

Esteqlal, however, failed to salvage a draw, sinking two steps in the 18-strong table with 14 points.

Paykan jumps to the 7th spot on 15 points.