Persian Gulf Pro League:
Rezaeian rescues point for Esteghlal; Tractor held at Mes
Esteghlal fullback Ramin Rezaeian scored a last-gasp equalizer as the Capital Blues overcame a two-goal deficit to salvage a point in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Zob Ahan in the Persian Gulf Pro League at the Shahr-e Qods Stadium on Tuesday.
Esteghlal stepped onto the pitch fresh off an opening-day 1-0 victory over Tractor but was stunned inside 14 minutes when Pouya Mokhtari gave the visitors, who were beaten by newly-promoted Paykan at home last week, a surprise lead with a half volley from outside the box.
Hassan Shoushtari added to the Blues’ misery midway through the first half before Alireza Koushki pulled one back for the home side with a superb curling effort from the edge of the area.
Shoushtari, however, restored the two-goal cushion for Zob in the first-half added time, drilling a free kick into bottom corner.
New Esteghlal signings Duckens Nazon and Jasir Asani were introduced for the start of the second half, and the duo combined to set up Koushki for his second of the night three minutes after the restart.
Esteghlal supporters still had to wait until the fourth minute of stoppage time for an equalizer, when Rezaeian headed home Abolfazl Jalali’s set-piece.
Esteghlal will be desperate to get back in the winning ways when visiting Esteghlal Khuzestan after the international break, while Zob Ahan will be looking to build on the result at home against Mes Rafsanjan.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Tractor’s formidable frontline was kept at bay as the defending champion was held to a goalless stalemate at Mes Rafsanjan.
The result meant that Dragan Skocic’s side remains without a win in its first two games and has yet to find the net ahead of the home game against Iralco on September 12.
Newly-promoted Fajr Sepasi, which played to an impressive 1-1 draw against Persepolis last week, defeated Golgohar Sirjan 1-0 in its first home game in the Iranian top flight in three years, thanks to Shervin Bozorg’s spot kick 10 minutes into the second half at the Pars Shiraz Stadium.
In Ahvaz, Mohammad Alinejad scored a 47th-minute winner against his former club as Malavan walk away with a massive 1-0 victory over Foolad Khuzestan.
Shams Azar and Chadormalou shared the spoils in a rollercoaster 4-4 draw in Qazvin.
Reza Dehqan and Ali Khodadadi put Chadormalou in front inside 11 minutes, before Mahdi Mamizadeh and Houman Rabizadeh’s spot kick drew the home side level in the first half.
Rabizadeh again scored from the spot to give Shams Azar the lead for the first time in the game on the hour mark, but Dehqan bagged his second of the night four minutes later to restore parity.
Ecuadorian substitute Renny Simisterra thought he had secured maximum points for the visitors when he scored with four minutes remaining, only to see his strike canceled out by Milad Sourgi’s equalizer in the fourth minute of stoppage time.