Milic free-kick gets Esteghlal back in winning ways in Persian Gulf Pro League
The first day of the third round of matches at the Persian Gulf Pro League saw Esteghlal edge past Mashinsazi at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium by one goal, while table toppers Golgohar Sirjan and Foolad Khuzestan settled for a 1-1 draw. A sublime left-footed free-kick by Croatian Hrvoje Milic in the 57th minute was enough for Mahmoud Fekri’s side to bounce back from last Friday’s 2-1 defeat at Foolad Khuzestan.
In Sirjan, Nigerian Godwin Mensha was on the score-sheet for the third game running as he put Golgohar en route to a third win in a row, before his eighth-minute spot-kick was canceled out by Mohammad Qasseminejad.
Foolad is ruing for leaving Sirjan with minimum point after Sassan Ansari sent keeper Alireza Haqiqi the wrong way, seeing his penalty kick hit the post right before the final whistle.
Meanwhile, Saipa registered first victory of the new campaign after new signing Mohsen Mosalman scored in the 65th minute – five minutes after coming off the bench – to give Ebrahim Sadeqi’s men a 1-0 win over Nassaji Mazandaran.
In Arak, bottom sides Aluminium Arak and Mes Rafsanjan played to a goalless draw.
Reds in Masjed Soleyman
In today’s fixtures, champion Persepolis will be seeking a second successive victory in the new season when playing away to Naft Masjed Soleyman, having beaten San’at Naft Abadan 1-0 at home last Saturday.
Alireza Mansourian will eye a first win on Tractor’s bench when his team faces Moharam Navidkia’s Sepahan in Tabriz.
Paykan, which saw manager Mehdi Tartar step down after only a couple of matches in charge, travels to Isfahan to take on Zob Ahan, while in Mashhad, Shahr Khodro plays San’at Naft.