On seventh day, first and second teams in the classification won their matches; Mashhad’s Padideh, which is aptly named (Persian for ‘phenomenon’) because of its good performance in the league, came to a halt with a draw in Ahwaz against Esteqlal Sanati of the province; Naft of Tehran and Sepahan of Isfahan found similar fates in the hands of Malavan of Anzali and Gostaresh of Tabriz. Naft was downed to seventh place with this draw, lagging behind the six leading teams of the league receiving a late goal.
Reza Enayati of Padideh responded late goal by Esteghlal Sanati in added minutes by a penalty kick, thus denying Esteqlal Sanati and Abdullah Weisi their first win ever in the 14th league.
In Isfahan, Sepahan found a goal by Priera very early in the game; however, Rafkhahi drew the game for Malavan’s white swans. This was Sepahan’s 4th game when it exchanged draw with victory.
The last game played in oil-rich southern city of Masjed-e-Soleiman, Esteqlal of the capital defeated the host with two goals both in the last minutes of first and second halves. In minute 87 of the game, Milad Sonayyedpour responded a goal, but lost a penalty kick to squander a great chance to find the draw. This was Naft’s second loss in a raw.
On Friday, Saipa of Karaj defeated Zob Ahan of Isfahan, going up in the classification to sixth place. Behshah Alidoust was striker in minute 30. Golmohammadi’s men are now languishing in 14th place in the classification.
In Ekbatan Saba exchanged the win twice with draw, thus forcing the manager Samad Marfawi to resign, reportedly for financial and personal reasons.
Peikan in its home defeated the last champion Foulad of Ahwaz to find its first win and goal, and to force to Foulad its third winless game.
In the most tragic day for Persepolis, the capital’s popular club was deprived of a win at home when Tractorsazi scored twice late in the game to see itself in 9th place. The win brought Tractorsazi closer to topping Esteqlal, and Lociano Edinho to top of the roost in scorers’ table.
SH
MNA
END