IranSportsPress (ISP): Esteghlal 2-0 Zob Ahan

Esteghlal 2-0 Zob Ahan
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AFC on 13/02/2012 17:15:00

Esteghlal beat compatriots Zob Ahan 2-0 at the Azadi Stadium on Friday in an
Iranian derby to book an AFC Champions League eliminator play-off against Saudi
Arabia's Ettifaq.

Khosro Heidari and Arash Borhani scored in each half as the Blues ended Zob
Ahan's five-week run without conceding a goal.
Heidari's goal came in the 23rd minute after good build-up down the left by a
rejuvenated Fereydoon Zandi and new signing JLloyd Samuel who provided the cross
from the left.
Samuel also set up Borhani's 67th minute goal after the former Aston Villa and
Bolton defender flicked on a Heidari cross from the left for the striker to head
in from six yards out at the far post.
Esteghlal coach, Parviz Mazloumi, was in magnanimous mood after the match.
"I congratulate the Zob Ahan technical staff for helping put on an attractive
match and I thank the fans for supporting us in the rain," he said
The win went some way to easing the pain of a dramatic defeat to their bitter
rivals Piroozi a week ago and it was all the more impressive because Esteghlal
were without key players like Iranian internationals Andranik Teimourian and
Mojtaba Jabbari.
Mazloumi said that thoughts have immediately turned to a meeting with Ettifaq,
who are coached by the former Iran national boss, Branko Ivankovic.
"We are thinking about Ettifaq from today," he said. "I hope even more fans come
(on February 18) as we're now talking about the name of Iran."
Mazloumi's counterpart, Mansour Ebrahimzadeh, was equally gracious,
congratulating Esteghlal but admitting his players were at fault for the defeat.
"In the end, we lost thanks to two mistakes. Nobody picked up Samuel," said the
man who's led Zob Ahan to the final of the tournament in 2010.
"Until the second goal we had all the possession and they were thinking about
the counter attack.
"I hope that Esteghlal can go all the way to the final."