Taleblu saves Esteqlal quarters berth

MNA – Keeper Vahid Taleblu saved three penalty kicks to help the capital’s Esteqlal cruise into the League Cup quarterfinals with a 4-2 win over Zob Ahan in Fuladshahr Stadium in Isfahan Friday.

The two sides failed to find the net in the first half, but home team Zob took the lead three minutes into second half through Mohammad Mansuri, whose low drive kissed the net after hitting the post.

Zob’s lead was short-lived as Esteqlal striker Arash Borhani raced to his teammate Piruz Qorbani’s bicycle kick in the box in the 53rd minute to send the ball past goalie Mohammad-Baqer Sadeqi with a side-footed drive.

Taleblu dived two minutes later to palm away a goal-bound header from Mohammadreza Khal’atbari.

Shootouts were deciding as the match in normal and extra time ended 1-1.

Esteqlal skipper Mohammad Navazi and Zob’s Mansuri converted the first spot-kicks.

Midfielder Mojtaba Jabbari was denied by the post in Esteqlal’s second attempt and Taleblu blocked Esmaeil Farhadi’s kick.

Esteqlal was again under pressure when Sadeqi saved the third from Omid Ravankhah, but the Blues had in-form Taleblu to thank for denying Zob’s Brazilian signing Fabio Da Silva.

The visitor’s fullback Amir-Hossein Sadeqi kept his nerves to beat Sadeqi with a low left shot and Taleblu rebounded Mohsen Salman’s spot-kick to raise the spirits of Borhani, who calmly converted the winning kick.

Esteqlal will take on Pas of Hamedan in the quarterfinal.