Esteghlal battled to a 2-2 draw against Malavan in the 14th week of the Iran Professional League (IPL) in the Malavan's Takhti Stadium.
Jalal Rafkhaei put the hosts in lead from the penalty spot in the 28th minute. Siavash Akbarpur’s header equalized the match five minutes later.
Malavan put Esteghlal under pressure in the second half. Mohammad Nozhati opened Esteghlal’s goal in the 77th minute but the visitors’ striker Alireza Abbasfard poured cold water on Malavan hopes in the injury time when his shot into six yards zone past Malavan goalie.
The other Tehran’s giant football club Persepolis was held against Saba Battery in front of more than 40,000 fans at the Azadi Stadium.
Saba fought back two times to draw the match. Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht gave Persepolis the lead when he found himself unmarked and opened Saba’s goal with a header in the 19th minute.
Fereydoon Fazli managed to score for Saba in the 57th minute with a header in a cross from the corner spot.
Persepolis took advantage of Nikbakht’s left-footed free kick in the 65th minute but Saba rallied to a draw eight minutes later when Fazli opened Persepolis’ goal for the second time with eight minutes remaining.
Esteghlal and Persepolis remained unchanged in the IPL standing. Esteghlal is third with 25 points and Persepolis placed fourth collecting 22 points.
MH/MRK
END
MNA
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