Perspolis survived threat of elimination against Bargh in shootout

PLDC - It was on paper an easy game for the Reds of the capital in the quarter-finals of the Hazfi cup against Bargh of Tehran, but the motivated Bargh team proved to be a much more difficult task for Perspolis than originally thought.

Perspolis opened the scoring mid-way through the half through the new signing, the Syrian striker Ziad Shabo. However, Bargh that had come close on few occasions, was able to tie the game 12 minutes from time with a header after Perspolis players allowed Bargh to take control of the game in the second half.

The game then went into extra time and it was Perspolis again that took the lead after scored a beautiful goal by Alireza Nikhbakht-Vahedi. It wasn't to be easy however on this day for the Reds, as Bargh once again showed why they have made it this far in the competition by scoring late in the first half of extra time.

Perspolis took control in the last 15 minutes of the marathon, but fail to create any clear chances and Bargh played it cool into the penalty shoot-outs and looked favorites the League II side had previously won twice on penalties in this year’s competition.

After the fifth kick however by Badamaki, Perspolis guaranteed passage to the next round as Bagheri, Madanchi, Ashoubi, Asadi and Badamaki converted their penalties and Mehdi Va’ezi saved one for Perspolis in goal to not have the 20,000 plus Perspolis fans go home with broken heart.

Perspolis will face Sepahan in the semi-final of the Hazfi cup in Tehran. The date has not yet been announced by the IFF.

Posted by: Armin A.