Persian Gulf Pro League:
Alipour on target as Persepolis ends drought in ‘Iranian Clasico’
Persepolis celebrated a first top-flight victory in the ‘Iranian Clasico’ in 1,335 days, securing a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Sepahan in the Persian Gulf Pro League on Monday.
Ali Alipour made the difference at Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium, as the prolific striker rounded off a textbook counter-attack with a composed finish from the edge of the box in the 44th minute.
This was a relieving, and yet statement, victory for new Persepolis boss Vahid Hashemian, who replaced Turkish Ismail Kartal in the summer, after his team had suffered four successive defeats against its familiar foe last season and was held to a 1-1 stalemate against Fajr Sepasi on the opening day of the new campaign last week.
Despite the victory, Hashemian acknowledged in the post-match press conference that his team is far from a finished article.
“It was a really tough game, as I expected. We had to hold off their pressure in the opening 15 minutes and then managed to control the game. It’s a massive result, but that doesn’t mean there’s no more room for improvement. We will enjoy the three points today and then keep working hard for our future games,” Hashemian said.
Meanwhile, Sepahan head coach Moharram Navidkia, who was also appointed to the role in the summer, must have felt unlucky to finish the game empty-handed, after his team enjoyed 62-percent possession and registered 26 shots compared to the visitors’ seven.
The home side, which was reduced to 10 men after a straight red for Mohammad Daneshgar, was still fortunate not to concede a second goal late in the game. Persepolis winger Oston Urunov hit the crossbar from close range, beofore Milad Mohammadi missed an absolute sitter on the counter.
“I think I just have to praise my players for their exceptional performance. They dominated the possession and created numerous chances,” Navidkia said.
“My players lost their composure in the final 15 minutes, and were pulled out of position, which led to a couple of chances for Persepolis.
“We all due respect to our opponent, I think this was one of the best performances by any of my teams throughout my managerial career. I still can’t believe we lost the game,” added Navidkia.
Sepahan, which shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw at Malavan last week, will chase a first win of the campaign when visiting Golgohar Sirjan next, while Persepolis will welcome Foolad Khuzestan and former Reds head coach Yahya Golmohammadi to the Shahr-e Qods Stadium after the upcoming international break.
Elsewhere on Monday, Khaybar continued its impressive start to the new season with a 1-0 win at Iralco.
Mehrdad Qanbari sent goalkeeper Mohammad Khalifeh the wrong way from the spot in the 63rd minute to lead the visitors to a second win in a row.
Newly-promoted Paykan and Esteghlal Khuzestan shared the points in a 1-1 draw in Tehran.
Iran under-20 striker Kasra Taheri bagged his second goal in as many games for Paykan midway through the first half, only to see his strike canceled out by Maysam Taymouri’s own goal three minutes later.