Hazfi Cup Semis: Esteghlal Defeats Persepolis
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Esteghlal football team defeated Persepolis on penalties to book a place in Iran’s Hazfi Cup final.
On Wednesday, Esteghlal defeated its archrival Persepolis 4-1 in penalty shootout following a 2-2 draw after 20 minutes.
Mehdi Ghaedi was on target in the fourth minute with a curling shot from the area. Four minutes into the second half, Persepolis Iraqi midfielder Bashar Rasan equalized the match with a powerful strike on the verge of the area.
Ali Alipour scored a late goal for Persepolis but Mohammad Daneshgar kept alive Esteghlal’s hopes of winning the match in the added time after finding back of the net with a header.
Esteghlal will meet Tractor in Hazfi Cup’s final match on September 3.
Esteghlal is the most decorated team in Hazfi Cup competition, having won the title seven times.