Iranian Hazfi Cup:
Esteghlal stunned by Mes; Persepolis, Sepahan ease into last-16
Three rescheduled fixtures in the Iranian Hazfi Cup were staged on Monday, with defending champion Persepolis and Sepahan claiming comfortable victories over their opponents to march into last 16.
Meanwhile, the biggest upset of the third round saw Esteghlal crash out of the domestic cup after a 2-0 defeat at Mes Rafsanjan.
Esteghlal defender Saleh Hardani could have given the Blues an early lead from the spot, only to see his effort well saved by former Persepolis keeper Hamed Lak in the 12th minute.
Mohammad-Mahdi Mohebbi put Moharram Navidkia’s revived Mes in front with a composed finish in the 24th minute, before Iraqi midfielder Muntadher Mohammed’s sublime lob doubled the home side’s advantage midway through the second half.
This was only a second defeat for Javad Nekounam since he took charge of the Blues bench last summer, though it also meant that his side has now failed to win its last seven away games across all competitions.
Leading the Iranian top-flight table, Esteghlal will return to league action on Friday, visiting Esteghlal Khuzestan in Ahvaz.
Elsewhere, Persepolis continued its impressive run under Brazilian Osmar Vieira – an ex-number two to his predecessor Yahya Golmohammadi – walking away with a 3-0 win against second-tier club Naft Gachsaran in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Mahdi Torabi broke the deadlock late in the first half, with Danial Esmaeilifar and Issa Alekasir on the scoresheet in the second period as the Reds eased to a third successive victory after the Asian Cup pause and will hope to repeat the success in the league when taking on Foolad Khuzestan on Friday ahead of next week’s crunch Tehran Derby.
In Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium, Portuguese manager Jose Morais was thrilled to see his Sepahan team end a seven-game losing streak with a commanding 3-0 triumph over Shams Azar, which had beaten the Isfahan-based outfit by one goal in the league on the first of the new year.
Reza Asadi, the second top scorer in the league, scored his first goal since late December, flicking in a Ramin Rezaeian’s effort into the roof of the net.
Omid Nourafkan’s sizzling strike doubled Sepahan’s lead on the hour mark, and substitute Reza Shekari sealed the victory with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Sitting third in the league table –eight points off the top with two games in hand – Morais will be eager to have his men keep up the momentum at home against Paykan on Friday.
Monday’s winners will be joined by fellow top-flight sides Malavan, Iralco, Havadar, Golgohar, Paykan, Zob Ahan, and Tractor as well as second-division clubs Chadormalu SC, Fajr Sepasi, Saipa, Mes Kerman, Esteghlal Mollasani, and Mes Sungun in the next round of the Hazfi Cup.