Brilliant Rahmati leads 10-man Esteghlal into Hazfi Cup semis [VIDEO]

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Esteghlal football team reached Hazfi Cup semi-final after a 5-4 win on penalties against Naft Tehran at Takhti stadium on Wednesday.

Naft defender Mohammad Daneshgar scored an own goal in the 44th minute to give Esteghlal the lead. In the 79th minute Esteghlal player Yaghoub Karimi was forced to leave the field after receiving his second yellow card.

The match was going to finish with the sole goal for Esteghlal when Saeed Lotfi levelled the score for Naft in the second minute of stoppage time. The match went to extra time but neither of the team could score the winning goal until 120th minute.

In penalty shootout, Mehdi Rahmati showed excellent performance by saving three penalties and sent Esteghlal to Hazfi cup semi-final.

Esteghlal will now face Tractor Sazi who beat Saipa 2-1 in the quarter-final.

The reigning champion Zob Ahan edged past Sepahan on penalties in another semi-final match to reach the second consecutive Hazfi Cup final.