Mob`ali plays protagonist in Foulad`s "Escape to Victory"

IRNA - National midfielder Iman Mob`ali deserved a pat on the back for steering the visiting leader Foulad toward a priceless 2-0 win over popular Persepolis in the last 16th-week foul-prone match of fourth Iran Pro League here Sunday.
The red-clad home team, which was supported by some 35,000 partisan fans in Azadi Stadium, came close to the opener in the 26th minute when the nimble striker Sohrab Entezari hit a left winger Alireza Emamifar`s superb cross against the near post.
Persepolis midfielder Karim Baqeri`s trademark cannonball was defused by the visitor`s in-form keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour on 28 minutes.
Mob`ali`s curling free-kick forced a spectacular dive from the reds` budding goalie Mohammad Mohammadi seven minutes later.
Mirzapour dived four minutes from interval to palm away an inswinging drive from forward Java Kazemian.
But it was the cool-headed Mob`ali, who had the last laugh on reds with a perfect free-kick kissing the net in the 45th minute.
Persepolis, which needed a win to topple Foulad, was stunned one minute into the second half.
Striker Ahmad Mo`menzadeh unleashed a sizzling 20-yard drive that froze the reds shivering in the stands and dugout after rattling the woodwork, which was collapsed a second later as Meysam Soleimani was first to the rebound and found the empty net with a header.
Mirzapour`s blooper in the 61st minute handed the home side a good chance for minimizing the gap but Kazemian carelessly sent the ball out.
Mob`ali turned provider on 72 minutes, leaving Mo`menzadeh alone with Mohammadi but the striker was denied by the keeper.
The home fans were about to celebrate the opener one minute later when Kazemian, who was well fed by an Entezari through ball in the box, unbelievably kicked the ball out of the woodwork.
Foulad was deprived of the third on 79 minutes as substitute Nader Ahmadi failed to head home a delightful cross from Man of the Match, Mob`ali.
The southerners retained the top spot on 34 points, five clear of second-placed Zob Ahan.
Persepolis remained in the third place with the previous 28 points.
In other Sunday`s match, Mohammad Gholamin fired home in the 67th minute to give the visiting Malavan a 1-0 victory over Fajr-e Sepassi in Hafezieh Stadium in Shiraz.