Sepahan hold second place after win over Esteghlal Khuzestan
Sepahan secured a 3–1 home victory over Esteghlal Khuzestan and is currently in second place in the Iran Pro League, level on points with Esteghlal but behind on goal difference.
The Week 22 encounter was played at Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium, just days after Sepahan’s elimination from the AFC Champions League Round of 16. Eager to respond, the hosts began the match with intensity and purpose.
Esteghlal Khuzestan struck first in the 8th minute, as Amirhossein Jalalivand found the net to give the visitors an early advantage under head coach Amir Khalifeh-Asl. The lead held until the closing moments of the first half, when Arash Rezavand equalized for Sepahan just before the break, sending both teams into halftime level at 1–1, IRNA wrote.
Sepahan controlled possession and territory throughout the first half and maintained their dominance after the restart. Their pressure paid off in the 68th minute, when Kaveh Rezaei curled in a stunning free kick to put the hosts ahead.
Late drama followed in the final minutes. In the 88th minute, after a VAR review, referee Shobeir Behroozi awarded Sepahan a penalty, but Ricardo Alves saw his spot kick saved by goalkeeper Mohammadjavad Kia to keep the score at 2–1.
Moments later, Aria Yousefi was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge, though the decision was overturned to a yellow after another VAR review.
Deep into stoppage time, Esteghlal Khuzestan conceded a second penalty. Alves stepped up again and calmly converted to seal Sepahan’s 3-1 victory.