Navidkia blames ‘impulsive’ Sepahan after Hazfi Cup exit
Sepahan head coach Mohammad Navidkia blamed his side’s “impulsive” performance after suffering a shock 3-1 home defeat to Khaybar in the Iranian Hazfi Cup last 16.
Mohsen Sefidchoqaei gave Khaybar a fifth-minute lead at Isfahan’s Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium, only for his strike to be cancelled out 10 minutes later by in-form Mohammad Askari, who netted his seventh goal in 14 appearances across all competitions.
Ali Khanzadi’s header restored the visitors’ advantage two minutes into the second half, before Iranian international midfielder Omid Nourafkan was denied from the penalty spot by Khaybar goalkeeper Hossein Pourhamidi.
Amirhossein Farsi came off the bench to double Khaybar’s lead with 16 minutes remaining as Sepahan fell to its first defeat in 14 games in all competitions since a 2-1 home loss to Tractor in the Persian Gulf Pro League on September 21.
It marked another impressive result for Mahdi Rahmati’s Khaybar, which has already defeated Iranian top-flight heavyweights Tractor and Persepolis in the league this season.
“We missed out on a precious trophy,” Navidkia said after the game. “It was a thrilling match with numerous chances for both sides, but we were unlucky to concede twice at the worst possible moments — in the early stages of both halves.”
Navidkia pointed to his team’s high-risk attacking approach and a loss of tactical cohesion as the main reasons for the defeat. The situation worsened in the second half following the forced substitution of Brazilian midfielder Ricardo Alves as a precaution due to injury.
“Alves’ exit disrupted our midfield discipline,” he explained. “The team then became impulsive, desperately pushing for an equalizer and leaving vast spaces for Khaybar’s counter-attacks.”
He also underlined the unforgiving nature of knockout football, where any defeat results in elimination regardless of the scoreline. “We played with excessive risk, which unfortunately left us vulnerable defensively.”
The club legend offered his full support to Nourafkan after the missed penalty, saying: “Omid is a quality player with exemplary discipline. Missing a penalty does not diminish his ability. He delivered a brilliant performance against Foolad last time out, and I am confident he will be a major asset for the team as the season progresses.
“Had our penalty been converted, the dynamics of the game would have changed. However, I must accept that impulsive play and a lack of discipline at certain spells were the primary reasons for our cup exit. We must address these weaknesses promptly.”