Persepolis Too Strong for Esteghlal in Tehran Derby [VIDEO]
Tasnim, TEHRAN – Persepolis football team earned a dramatic 4-2 victory over bitter-rival Esteghlal in Tehran derby on Friday.
With four weeks remaining, the Reds moved to top of Iran Professional League (IPL) table.
Mehdi Taremi scored twice for Persepolis in the 5th and 35th minutes. He failed to score hat trick after Esteghlal goalkeeper Mehdi Rahmati saved his penalty in the 49th minute.
Persepolis put Esteghlal under pressure in the early minutes of the second half and eventually scored its third goal.
After Rahmati punched away Ahmadzadeh’s cross, Ramin Rezaeian found the back of the net with a header.
Esteghlal pulled a goal back one minute later after Persepolis goalkeeper Sosha Makani failed to save the ball inside the six-yard area and substitute Jaber Ansari opened the goal.
Esteghlal controlled the ball and looked more dangerous team but Persepolis made it 4-1 on a counterattack. Mohsen Mosalman received a pass from Taremi and scored easily.
With one minute remaining, Esteghlal midfielder Omid Ebrahimi scored from the penalty spot to make it 4-2.
Persepolis moved top of IPL with 48 points two points ahead of Esteghlal Khuzestan. Esteghlal is third with 45 points.