Tractor Sazi defeat champions Foolad on PGL opening day

Persianfootball.com – TEHRAN, Cup winners Tractor Sazi Tabriz defeated reigning league champions Foolad Khuzestan 2-1 in the 2014/15 Persian Gulf League opener on Thursday.

Tractor took the lead in first half of what could well have been an Iranian Super Cup final through 23-year-old striker Saman Nariman Jahan, who had joined Rasoul Khatibi’s team from Gostaresh Foolad this summer.

Foolad’s new Croatian defender Leonard Mesaric equalized nine minutes from time for Dragan Skocic’s team, but another summer transfer gem, Edinho, scored a stunning winner for the homeside.

Elsewhere, Rah Ahan was unable to capitalize on Ramin Rezaeian’s first half goal, as Amir Ghalenoei’s Esteghlal Tehran eventually won 2-1 thanks to goals from returned Iraqi midfielder Karrar Jasseem and Mohammad Ghazi.

Also on Thursday, Saba Qom celebrated a 2-1 victory over Zob Ahan. Ayoub Kalantari and Cameroon-born striker Ambuno Achille scored for Saba while Morteza Tabrizi had equalized for Zob Ahan.

On Friday, round 1 will conclude with five matches, with Persepolis Tehran’s derby versus Naft being the highlight besides evergreen Sepahan’s clash versus big spenders Paykan FC, who celebrated their return from Qazvin to Tehran with some big transfers, including Mehdi Rahmati, Jloyd Samuel, Mohammad Nosrati and Saeid Daghighi.