Kazemian shoots Persepolis to victory, Zob humbles Fulad

MNA – Javad Kazemian had a major role in opener and grabbed the winner for Persepolis in its derby against the struggling Paykan here on Thursday.
Persepolis remained in the third spot with a 2-1 win in the 18th week of the fourth Iran Pro League in Azadi Stadium.

Kazemian playing on the right flank cleared his marker on 10 minutes to feed the waiting Mehrdad Owladi in the area with a superb left cross, which was steered home with a well-taken header by the forward.

Paykan celebrated the equalizer 13 minutes later when Bahman Tahmasbi stole a loose ball in the box and outpaced the reds’ defender Mohammad-Reza Mahdavi to send the ball past keeper Mohammad Mohammadi with a low left kick.

Owladi came close to his second in the 25th minute as his powerful drive from behind the area shook crossbar.

Morteza Kashi was to blame for Paykan’s defeat as he conceded a free-kick due to his wild foul on Ebrahim Assadi just behind the box on 33 minutes, which was spectacularly fired home by Kazemian.

Kazemian’s curling shot cleared the defensive wall and landed beyond the goalline after shaving keeper’s stretching hand and crossbar.

Persepolis could widen the gap two minutes from interval but striker Sohrab Entezari, who well fed by Reza Jabbari, failed to find the net from close range.

The two sides played an uneventful second half and the reds won perfect points.

In Isfahan, second-placed Zob Ahan tamed league leader Fulad 2-0 to close the gap.

Despite loss, Fulad retained the top spot on 37 points, two clear of Zob’s.

In another Thursday’s game, Pas defeated Malavan 3-2.

On Friday, Esteqlal of Tehran was held by Fajr-e Sepassi to a scoreless draw in Hafezieh Stadium in Shiraz, Esteqlal of Ahvaz saw off Saipa 1-0 in Takhti Stadium of Ahvaz, Abu Moslem beat the visiting Barq 3-2 in Takhti Stadium, Saba Battery overcame Sepahan 2-1 in Derakhshan Stadium in Sabashahr, and Shamushak edged past Pegah 1-0 in Shohada Stadium of Noshahr.

The league will be resumed three weeks later as midseason break starts and national squad is getting ready for the deciding World Cup qualifier against bogey side Bahrain in Manama on Feb. 9.