Persian Gulf Pro League:
Last-gasp winner extends Foolad’s unbeaten run
Arash Akbarzadeh came off the bench to score a 97th-minute winner and help Foolad Khuzestan defeat Zob Ahan 2-1 at home in the Persian Gulf Pro League on Saturday.
A Nader Mohammadi own goal gave Foolad a 45th-minute lead against the struggling visitors, who had been reduced to 10 men following a straight red card for Pouya Mokhtari midway through the first half at Foolad Arena.
Zob Ahan still managed to restore parity two minutes later, when Pedram Qazipour’s effort from outside the box found the bottom corner, leaving the score 1-1 at halftime.
Akbarzadeh’s superb strike from the edge of the area, however, extended Foolad’s impressive run to three wins and two draws in five games since Hamid Motahari was appointed as head coach in mid-January, replacing Yahya Golmohammadi.
The victory lifted Foolad to ninth in the table with 28 points from 21 games, while Zob Ahan remained second from bottom with 19 points.
On Friday, Persepolis suffered a third successive defeat in the Iranian top flight, falling 2-1 to Khaybar at home to remain fifth in the table with 35 points, while the visiting side moved up to eighth on 29 points.
Sixth-placed Chadormalou came from behind to stun leaders Golgohar 5-1 at home, with Fajr Sepasi edging out Shams Azar 1-0 in Shiraz.
Iralco and Paykan played to a 1-1 draw in Arak.