Persian Gulf Pro League roundup:
Esteghlal edges out Iralco to maintain grip on top spot
Argentine striker Gustavo Blanco headed home his third goal in two games to help Esteghlal walk away with a 1-0 victory at Iralco in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Having seen their lead on archrival Persepolis on top of the table reduced to a single point after a 2-2 home draw against Mes Rafsanjan last week, Javad Nekounam’s Blues held out a desperate push by the home side in the closing stages to stay atop with 50 points with seven games to spare.
Later in the day, Persepolis, chasing a seventh league crown in eight years, had Issa Alekasir to thank for a 1-0 win against a brave Malavan side at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
Alekasir, who rejoined the Reds from Sepahan in the mid-season transfer window, headed in the winner on an Omid Alishah’s cross four minutes into the second half but Malavan, which would have moved up to third in the standings with maximum points, felt unfortunate to concede as the Persepolis striker looked to be just off-side.
The Reds also had to hold off a late surge by the opponent to secure a massive victory, while under-23 shot stopper Amir-Reza Rafiei, filling in for injured international keeper Alireza Beiranvand, was delighted to keep a third clean sheet in as many appearances.
Elsewhere on Friday, third-place Tractor was hammered 4-1 at home by Zob Ahan to see the gap on the second spot extended to nine points.
Mohammad-Hossein Eslami scored twice with Mohammad-Javad Mohammadi and Amirhossein Jeddi also on the scoresheet before Mehdi Abdi’s stoppage-time consolation from the spot as Mohammad Rabiei’s side claimed a first league win in eight matches.
Once regarded as the ultimate favorite for the title, Sepahan suffered another blow to its quest for a first league crown since 2015 after a frustrating goalless stalemate at home against bottom-side Nassaji Mazandaran left the Isfahan-based club in the fourth place with 39 points.
Meanwhile, Pouria Sarabadani’s strike with 20 minutes left on the clock saw Shams Azar defeat Foolad Khuzestan at home, with Havadar beating visiting Golgohar Sirjan by the same scoreline, courtesy of an in-form Dariush Shojaeian’s goal midway through the first half.
Mes and Paykan played to a 2-2 draw in Rafsanjan, while in a decisive survival battle, Iraqi forward Aso Rostam bagged a 91st-minute winner to steer Esteghlal Khuzestan to a 2-1 victory at home over San’at Naft Abadan.
The win lifted the southern Iranian Blues to third from bottom – three points clear from relegation candidates San’at and Nassaji.