Results of IPL third-week matches

GOAL - At the end of Round 3 of the Iranian Professional League a familiar name, but an unlikely team, sits atop of the table. Esteghlal of Ahvaz tie their namesakes from the Iranian capital with nine points, but lead them in the standings thanks to a better goal difference. The minnows from the Southern city of Ahvaz have accomplished this playing solid defense, combined with just enough offense to give them three consecutive victories.

The two newcomers, Mes and Peykan, sit comfortably in the middle of the table with four points each, and bottom dwellers Fajr of Shiraz are still looking for their first point of the season.

On Friday the three following league matches were played as scheduled.

Esteghlal of Ahvaz 1:0 Rah-Ahan

Ahvaz started the game with purpose and determination. They created a number of scoring opportunities early on that were narrowly missed. The game was scoreless until midway through the second half when Rah-Ahan defender Ebrahim Karimi fouled striker Fereydoon Fazli in the area. Fazli stepped up to the spot as he usually does for his team, and converted for the win.

Bargh 1:1 Abu Moslem

Coach Bijan Zolfagharnasab’s teams usually pride themselves in their defensive organization and discipline. On this day, however, Bargh seemed confused and disorganized in their own third of the field.

Twenty minutes into the game Abu Moslem capitalized, when Mohammad-Reza Nasehi converted a Majid Nour-Mohammadi pass for the lead. Had it not been for the heroics of their Georgian goalkeeper Miroslav Hail, Bargh would have been trailing by more than just one goal at the break.

Despite a dominating first half, Abu Moslem started the second half sitting back and trying to preserve the lead. That proved to be a costly tactical decision as with less than 10 minutes to go a Robert Markosi cross found Mohammad Ali Ebrahimian for the leveler. Things could have gotten worse for Abu Moslem had an Ebrahimian header not bounced back off the woodwork in the injury time.

Peykan 1:1 Malavan

Visitors Malavan unsettled the hosts by taking the game to them right from the starting whistle. Ten minutes into the game Peykan were delivered a blow when Mohsen Bayatinia received a straight red for elbowing Hadi Taemini of Malavan.

Despite dominating the dominating the half, Malavan’s poor finishing prevented them from capitalizing on their one man advantage. In the second half, Peykan took the lead against the flow of the game. But Malavan got the equalizer in the dying seconds of the injury time and salvaged a point on a day that they should have come away with all three.