PTV - Tehran's popular team
Persepolis has been held to a 2-2 draw by Saba Battery in the fourteenth
week of the Iranian Premier League (IPL).
Alireza Nikbakht Vahedi put the hosts ahead with a header from Serbian Ivan
Petrovic's cross in the 18th minute at Tehran's Azadi Stadium on Thursday
evening.
Fereydoun Fazli managed to equalize the score eight minutes after the
interval on a corner from Adel Kolahkaj.
In the 65th minute, Nikbakht fired the second goal for the Reds but it was
again canceled out by Fazli when he dribbled past defender Pejman Nouri and
found the target six minutes from time.
Firouz Karimi's men could have won the game in the 86th minute but Mohsen
Bayatinia hit the post when he faced one-to-one with Persepolis goalkeeper
Alireza Haqiqi.
"This was one of our weakest performances. Although we have a lot of stars,
we couldn't play well enough to win the game," said Persepolis coach Afshin
Qotbi.
"The players failed to do what the technical staff asked them to do," he
added.
The draw keeps Persepolis in the fourth place with 22 points while their
main rivals Esteqlal of Tehran moved to the second level on 25 points after
a 2-2 draw against Malavan.
Paykan stands atop the table with 27 points while Zob Ahan is third on goal
difference with 25 points.
