MNA – Esteqlal of Tehran did
not break the jinx as it was held in the family fight while Barq took
heart at home to edge past the third Iran Pro League holder Pas Monday.
Esteqlal of southern city Ahvaz, which inflicted a heavy blow on the
capital’s Blues last season with a 2-1 win that helped Pas be in the
driver’s seat just one week from the tournament put a brake on the
revenge-seeking home team’s progress in the first week of the 4th IPL in
an almost empty Azadi Stadium, west of Tehran.
National left winger Alireza Vahedi-Nikbakht, who put Iran ahead against
Jordan in the 80th minute of their second-leg World Cup qualifier last
Wednesday was full of energy and sent few partisan home fans wild with
applause six minutes before the break.
Nikbakht took the optimal advantage of southerners’ advancing keeper Sasha
Ilic’s blunder to steer a Gilaverdi diagonal cross into an empty net with
a simple header.
Ahmad Al-e Ne’me canceled out Nikbakht opener just one minute after the
restart as he patted in a free-kick in the goalmouth.
The southerners came close to the second on 59 minutes when Amir
Khlifeh-Asl had just the keeper to beat but he carelessly missed the
scoring opportunity.
Nikbakht turned provider in the 82nd minute when he curled the ball for
substitute Fred Malekian in the six-yard area but the striker failed to
head the perfect cross.
The well-placed Ilic secured one point for the visitor as he saved a
ferocious drive from Nikbakht in injury time.
In other games played earlier in the day, Barq turned giant-killer as it
defeated champion Pas 2-1 in Shiraz, Shamushak and the newly-promoted Saba
Battery, which has hired national skipper Ali Daei tied 2-2, Paykan and
Pegah fought to a goalless draw, and Abu Moslem handed Zob Ahan a 1-0
defeat.
Malavan-Fajr match was postponed to heavy rain in Bandar Anzali, north of
Iran.
Persepolis meets Khuzestan’s Foulad and Sepahan plays SAIPA on Sept. 14.
