Persian Gulf Pro League:
Persepolis back to winning ways as Esteghlal snaps losing streak
Tehran archrivals Persepolis and Esteghlal claimed 1-0 victories over Golgohar Sirjan and Mes Rafsanjan respectively in two rescheduled fixtures from matchday four of the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Sepahan, meanwhile, salvaged a point in a 1-1 home draw against Nassaji Mazandaran to go one point clear of Persepolis on top of the table.
Beaten 1-0 by Esteghlal Khuzestan last time out in the Iranian top flight, Persepolis had veteran skipper Vahid Amiri’s composed finish the second half to thank for walking away with a massive win in the battle of the league’s two teams with the best defensive record.
The result saw Juan Carlos Garrido’s men overtake Sepahan in the standings on goal difference and would have finished the day in the first place, had it not been for Steven Nzonzi’s last-gasp equalizer against Nassaji later on Saturday.
Mersad Seifi’s sizzling strike from 25 yards out found the bottom corner to give Nassaji a 27-minute lead in Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium.
The visitors, who are rock-bottom in the table after 10 games, were minutes away from a first win of the campaign before the French midfielder headed home Mohammad Karimi’s set piece in the second minute of added time to rescue a point for the home side. This was a final game in charge for Sepahan’s interim coach Hugo Almeida, who had taken over from fellow-Portuguese Jose Morais last week and led the club to a much-needed 3-1 victory over Sharjah FC in the AFC Champions League Two.
In Tehran’s Shahr-e Qods Stadium, Esteghlal ended a miserable run of five successive defeats across all competitions, while South African head coach Pitso Mosimane – appointed to role in late October – celebrated a first win in his fourth game on the Blues bench.
Making only a second start in Esteghlal colors to fill in for injured Ramin Rezaeian, academy fullback and Iran under-20 international Abolfazl Zamani vindicated Mosimane’s faith by scoring the match winner, slotting home Milad Zakipour low cross on the far post 10 minutes into the game.
The third league win of the season lifted Mosimane’s men to the 10th place in the table with 11 points – 10 adrift of the top – while Mes Rafsanjan was left struggling in 14th spot, with just two points separating Masoud Shojaei’s side and relegation-threatened Havadar.