Sepahan storms back to beat Naft

TEHRAN TIMES – ESFAHAN, Sepahan football team came from behind to beat Naft 4-3 in Iran Professional League (IPL) on Tuesday.
 
The Isfahan-based team scored three goals in the last 13 minutes of the match and gained a valuable away win.
 
Hadi Shakkouri gave Naft the lead after six minutes into the match and Croatian Goran Ljubojevic extended the lead in the 16th minute.
 
Sepahan striker Xhevahir Sukaj pulled a goal back in the 38th but Ljubojevic scored once again in the 58th minute.
 
Naft Brazilian midfielder Magno was sent off after receiving his second yellow card in the 75th minute. Three minutes later Omid Ebrahimi scored for the visiting team. With 10 minutes remaining, Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari equalized the match and Ebrahimi scored Sepahan’s fourth goal in the injury time.
 
Elsewhere, Tractor Sazi was held to a 2-2 draw by Damash in its home game. Mehdi Karimian and Mohammad Ebrahimi scored for Tractor Sazi in 22nd and 85th minutes and Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi and Mehdi Kiani found the back of the nets in the 12th and 50th minutes.
 
On Monday, Esteghlal football team beat rock bottom Gahar. The blues defeated Gahar 2-0 in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.
 
Arash Borhani scored in the 17th minute and defender Jlloyd Samuel doubled the lead with a header in the 20th minute.
 
Esteghlal moved to top of the IPL table with 25 points, followed by Tractor Sazi and Sepahan with 24 points each.