Tractorsazi stopped in Tabriz, Esteghlal defeated in Tehran

Three fixtures of Iran’s Persian Gulf Premier League of Professional Soccer (IPL) were held on Tuesday in Iranian cities of Tabriz, Qom, and Tehran.

On day one in the seventeenth week of the 2016-17 season of IPL, Tractorsazi hosted Naft of Abadan in Tabriz, Saba hosted Peykan in Qom, and Esteghlal of Tehran lined up against Esteghlal of Khuzestan in Tehran.

In Tabriz, the hosts lost their lead two times as the visitors equalized on the 6th and 86th minutes. Ghalenoie’s side enjoyed a 50 minute lead after Mohammad Ebrahimi scored in the minute 7 but the lead was leveled at 60 by Zobeyr Niknafs of Naft. Two minutes later the red giants of Tabriz regained their lead by the goal of Alishan Omid but again the Firouz Karmi side leveled at 86 to let the visitor grab a precious 1 point share of the event.

In Qom, Saba of the city edged past Peykan with the sole goal of Omid Jahanbakhshi at the minute 82 to let Marfavi’s side garner the three points of the home event. Peykan’s boss Jalali leveled a severe criticism on his own side because of what he called “their worst performance of the season.”   

The blue giants of Tehran, who are having a bumpy season under Mansourian, lined up against their Khuzestani rivals of the same name at a home event with no fans. Last week they had a listless 1-0 victory, thanks to referee’s mistake, over Naft of Tehran and with the draw of the week before it, they were celebrating a kind of return. Meanwhile, the transitory joy of the last win soon faded away as they lost a home event 2-1 to Esteghlal of Khuzestan.    

The remaining five events of the week will be held on Wednesday as Sepahan will host Naft of Tehran in Isfahan, Gostersh Foulad and Machinsazi of Tabriz will have a Tabriz derby, Foulad of Khuzestan will line up against visiting Persepolis of Tehran, Both clubs of Mashhad, Siahjamegan and Padideh, will play against each other in Mashhad, and Sipa of Alborz will host Zowbahan of Isfahan in Karaj.

YNG/PR