Persian Gulf Pro League:
Uzbek impact inspires Reds to triumph in snow-hit Iranian Clasico
Uzbekistan internationals Oston Urunov and Igor Sergeev were on target as Persepolis defeated Sepahan 2-1 in a snow-affected Iranian Clasico at home on Friday, leapfrogging their familiar foe to the top of the Persian Gulf Pro League table.
Esteghlal, meanwhile, missed the opportunity to go top of the standings following a goalless stalemate against Zob Ahan at Isfahan’s Fooladshahr Stadium later in the day. The result saw Esteghlal drop to fourth in a tight title race, in which the top five teams are separated by only two points.
Urunov masterclass
Sepahan started strongly at Tehran’s Pas Qavamin Stadium and was somewhat unlucky not to take the lead before halftime after wasting a couple of clear-cut chances through Mohammad Mahdi Lotfi and Kaveh Rezaei.
However, the halftime introduction of Sergeev and Montenegrin midfielder Marko Bakić inspired the Capital Reds’ much-improved performance in the second half, with Urunov breaking the deadlock in the 53rd minute. The Uzbek winger was played in behind the Sepahan backline by Milad Mohammadi before his composed strike from inside the box found the bottom corner – the first goal conceded by Sepahan in seven visits to Persepolis.
Sepahan had goalkeeper Seyyed Hossein Hosseini to thank for producing a heroic save to deny Mohammad Amin Kazemian in the 70th minute, but there was more to come from Urunov two minutes later. The winger wizard swept past two Sepahan defenders and provided his international teammate with a delicate back-heel touch before Sergeev slotted home from close range to open his Reds account in his second appearance since joining the club earlier in the month.
His celebrations were cut short minutes later as he was sent off after a VAR review in the 95th minute for stamping Sepahan center-back Mohammad Daneshgar.
A second VAR intervention saw Sepahan awarded a 99th-minute penalty for a foul by goalkeeper Payam Niazmand on Majid Aliyari. Portuguese midfielder Ricardo Alves sent Niazmand the wrong way from the spot to reduce the deficit, though it proved to be just a consolation as Persepolis completed a league double over their rivals, having been winless against Sepahan in the league for 1,335 days before the reverse fixture last August.
Persepolis leads the table with 31 points from 17 games – level on points with Sepahan but ahead on head-to-head record.
“The three points were crucial in our quest for the title. My team didn’t perform as I wanted in the first half, but we improved tactically in the second half and capitalized on our chances,” said Persepolis head coach Osmar Loss Vieira.
“We made the halftime substitutions to create a ‘3 vs. 2’ overload against the opponent’s midfielders in the center of the pitch. I asked my players to push higher, press the opponent’s defensive line, and fortunately, we scored from exactly that kind of situation. With better transitions and more precision in the final third, we could have scored four or five,” added the Brazilian.
Sepahan boss Moharram Navidkia, meanwhile, rued the missed chances in the first half and refused to blame the weather conditions for the defeat.
“It was a game of two different halves. We were exceptional in the first half and created numerous chances, but unfortunately, we failed to convert them. We should have finished the game in that first period,” Navidkia said.
“After their well-taken goal, our team’s structure fell apart. We tried our best to calm our players down, but the lads were no longer playing in their positions,” added the club legend.
“It’s true we played much better in the first half, but I am not going to blame the snowy weather for our second-half collapse, as it is part of football. My players were desperate to make up for the defeat in the reverse fixture, but when you are playing against opposition of that caliber, it is crucial to stay focused until the very last second and not let emotions get the better of you,” Navidkia said after his team failed to win in the league for a third consecutive game.
Elsewhere, second-half goals from Mahdi Tikdari and Pouria Shahrabadi helped Golgohar Sirjan continue its impressive run of form with a 2-0 home win against Fajr Sepasi, moving Mahdi Tartar’s men to fifth in the table – level on 29 points with third-placed Tractor and Esteghlal but behind on goal difference.
Esteghlal Khuzestan played to a goalless draw at home against Paykan, mirroring the result between Chadormalou and Shams Azar Qazvin at Yazd’s Shahid Nassiri Stadium.