Persepolis lose, Esteghlal win

Tasnim – TEHRAN, Tehran’s Persepolis football team lost to Foolad in the 2nd week of the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Thursday.

In the match held at the Ghadir Stadium in Ahvaz, Persepolis, who was held to a 1-1 draw against Naft in the opening week, lost to Foolad 2-0.

Soroush Rafiei was on target just a minute before the half time and Esmaeil Sharifat extended Foolad’s lead in the 53rd minute.

Persepolis midfielder Payam Sadeghian was sent off in the 85th minute.

“Foolad deserved to win. We just played in the first 15 minutes of the first half,” Persepolis coach Ali Daei said in the news conference.

“We had changes in the second half but they didn’t work. Things went from bad to worse after our team reduced to 10-man in last minutes,” he added.

Elsewhere, Sepahan beat Gostaresh 2-0 in its away game, Naft Tehran lost to Rah Ahan 2-1 and Paykan played out a goalless draw with Saipa.

On Friday, Tehran’s giant blues Esteghlal snatched a late win thanks to an extra time goal from Sajad Shahbazzadeh.

The Iranian popular team beat Esteghlal Khuzestan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in the second week of the Iran Professional League (IPL) and moved to the second place.

Shabazzadeh found the back of the net in the stoppage time.

“First, I would like to congratulate Abdollah Veisi (Esteghlal Khuzestan coach) because of their performance. Both teams played well but we took advantage of our chances,” Esteghlal coach Amir Ghalenoei said.

Esteghlal is second in IPL table with six points behind Sepahan on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Malavan and Saba played out a goalless draw, Zob Ahan was held to a goalless draw against Tractor Sazi and Naft Masjed Soleyman suffered a 3-0 home defeat against Padideh.

Yunes Shakeri, Akbar Sadeghi and Reza Enayati were on target for Padideh.