Persian Gulf Pro League:
Sepahan held at Nassaji, suffers blow in title race
Sepahan was dealt a massive blow in its bid for a first Persian Gulf Pro League title in a decade after sharing the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate at Nassaji Mazandaran on Thursday.
Reza Shekari gave the visitors a 43rd-minute lead at the Vatani Stadium, tapping in from close range on a Kaveh Rezai’s low cross, before Kevin Yamga drew Nassaji level in the seventh minute of added time in the first half.
Nassaji was given a penalty after Sepahan defender Siavash Yazdani was deemed to have fouled Aref Rostami in the box following a VAR review.
The Frenchman had his spot-kick saved by Sepahan keeper Payam Niazmand but found the net on the rebound.
A fifth draw in six top-flight outings – third on the bounce – saw Sepahan go one point clear of Tractor on top of the table – before third-place Persepolis’s home game against Malavan on Friday – but the Tabriz-based club, having two games in hand, could move back on top when taking on Golgohar Sirjan at home on Sunday.
Nassaji is second from bottom in the 16-team table with 20 points.
Elsewhere, Khaybar defeated Chadormalou 2-0 at home to sit six points clear of the relegation zone.
Mohammad-Javad Mohammadi converted a spot kick in the 37th minute before Amirhossein Jeddi doubled Khaybar’s lead three minutes later.
Shams Azar also claimed a massive victory in its survival battle, defeating bottom-club Havadar 3-2 in Tehran.
Goals from Houman Rabizadeh and Mojtaba Fakhrian inside four minutes saw the visiting side take a two-goal lead at halftime.
Australian Matthew Millar pulled one back for the home side in the 57th minute but Abbas Habibi restored the two-goal cushion for Seyyed Mahdi Rahmati’s side 12 minutes later.
Mojtaba Haqdoust’s 77th-minute strike proved to be just a consolation for Havadar, as Shams Azar moved up to 13th with 24 points.