Esteghlal Books Place at Iran’s Hazfi Cup Semis
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - 10-man Esteghlal of Tehran football team defeated Naft Tehran 5-4 in penalty shootout and qualified for Iran’s Hazfi Cup semi-final.
On Wednesday in Tehran’s Takhti Stadium, Esteghlal almost won the match after Mohammad Daneshgar scored an owngoal before the break but Saeid Lotfi equalized the match in the dying moments of the match.
The Blues were already reduced to 10-man after referee Shahin Haj Babaei showed Yaghoub Karimi his second yellow card in the 78th minute.
The game went to a penalty shootout after extra-time.
Esteghlal's keeper Mehdi Rahmati saved three penalties and helped his team advances to the semi-final.
Esteghlal will meet Tractor Sazi Tabriz in the semis.
Zob Ahan of Isfahan on Tuesday qualified for the final, beating arch-rival Sepahan in penalty shootout.