IranGoals | Iran Football Videos

IRNA, Tehran
Table-topper Esteqlal salvaged a point in Sunday’s 29th week thriller against Zob Ahan and second-placed Pas fought back to beat Fajr-e Sepassi, making their title race for the coveted fifth Iran Pro League tougher.

In Isfahan’s packed Fouladshahr Stadium, Zob Ahan possessed the ball and field, hitting the post twice, on fifth and 17th minutes, through Hassan Ashjari.

But it was the defensive-minded Esteqlal that took the lead after 20 minutes.

Topscorer Gholam-Reza Enayeti unmarked in the area kept his nerves to send home a Siavash Akbarpour pass.

Zob, however, ruled the game, making a handful of dangerous attacks on the Blues’ woodwork.

In-form midfielder Mehdi Rajabzadeh’s free-kick in the 25th minute passed inches above the crossbar and Brazilian signing Da Silva forced a save from Esteqlal keeper Vahid Taleblou in the goalmouth eight minutes later.

Esmaeil Farhadi cleared two markers before he hit the ball against Taleblou’s chest on 45 minutes.

Esteqlal trainer Amir Qal’e-Noei had Taleblou to thank for his brilliant performance after the interval.

The goalie saved two headers from Da Silva immediately after halftime, spectacularly palming away a sizzling left drive from Ashjari on 55 minutes.

Zob missed a gilt-edged chance in the 67th minute when the unguarded Farhadi surprisingly headed out a Rajabzadeh well-struck free-kick.

Substitute Mohammad Salsali should have leveled the match eight minutes from normal time, kicking out a well-flighted cross from Keyvan Sajedi.

The drought caused some angry fans to hurl stones and other objects at Esteqlal keeper, prompting referee Massoud Moradi to stop the match for few minutes. The pause bode well for Zob as Da Silva broke the jinx, sending the fans wild with applause with the equalizer on 87 minutes.

Esteqlal will pay the price for its cagey football if it is outpointed by archrival Pas in the last week.

Pas, which needed a win to keep its title hopes alive, fell behind against the run of play in Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium, west of the capital.

Visitor’s skipper Vahid Rezaei spotted Mojtaba Zare’ in the area and the striker made no mistake, beating Pas keeper Hassan Roudbarian with a blank-point drive.

With two goals flagged offside, Pas finally leveled the match in the 30th minute.

Striker Iman Razzaqi poked home a cross from playmaker Khosro Heidari.

The home team was stunned on 64 minutes when Fajr retook the lead through Mohammad-Sadeq Karami.

Not to be outdone, the title hopeful Pas secured the parity 12 minutes later when Hossein Ashna failed to save Milad Meydavoudi’s bicycle kick, allowing substitute striker Arash Borhani to find the empty net.

Meydavoudi celebrated the third with a powerful drive six minutes later and Kianoush Rahmati converted a penalty three minutes from time.

Mohammad Dehqan stopped Hadi Shakouri’s goal-bound header with his hand, receiving his marching orders from referee Rahim
Rahimi-Moqaddam.

The dramatic victory helped Pas reduce the gap, sticking to pacesetter Esteqlal’s heels on 55 points.

Esteqlal having 56 points is host to lowly Barq in the capital’s Azadi Stadium on Friday and Pas meets third-placed Saba Battery in Shahid Derakhshan Stadium in Sabashahr.