Title: Persepolis’s Stalemate Continues: A Tense Draw Against Gol Gohar in Persian Gulf Pro League
A Clash of Ambition Ends in a Draw
In a tightly contested match of the Persian Gulf Pro League’s sixth week, Persepolis and Gol Gohar faced off at the Shahid-e Shahr-e Qods Stadium, with the encounter ending in a 1-1 stalemate. Both teams, separated by just a single point in the league standings, were hopeful that a victory would propel them higher in the table, but their efforts ultimately resulted in a shared point, leaving their ambitions partially fulfilled.
Team Lineups and Officiating
Under the guidance of head coach Vahid Hashemian, Persepolis fielded a strong lineup featuring Peyman Niazmand, Farshad Ahmadzadeh, Hossein Abargouei, Morteza Pouraliganji, Yaquob Barajeh, Soroush Rafiei, Marko Bakic, Mohammad Khodabandelou, Omid Alishah, T. V. Bifouma, and Ali Alipour.
Gol Gohar, led by coach Mehdi Tartar, responded with their own roster: Farzin Gerousian, Omid Hamedifar, Reza Jafari, Arman Akvan, Nemanja Tomasovic, Mehdi Tikdari, Majid Eidi, Masih Zahedi, Pouya Pourail, Pouria Latififar, and Bayama.
The match was officiated by head referee Koupal Nazemi, with Mohammad Ataei and Abbas Pourheidari as assistants. The VAR duties were managed by Moeed Baniadifard and Ali Ahmadi.
Match Highlights and Goals
The deadlock was broken in the 57th minute by Gol Gohar’s Mehdi Tikdari. Capitalizing on a defensive error from Persepolis’s Hossein Abargouei, Tikdari found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slotted a precise shot into the corner of the net, putting his team in the lead.
Persepolis fought back and found their equalizer in the 77th minute. A foul by Gol Gohar’s goalkeeper Farzin Gerousian on Omid Alishah resulted in a penalty. Veteran striker Ali Alipour stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and showcasing his experience under pressure.
Key Moments of the Match
The game was characterized by several near-misses and crucial interventions:
- Minute 9: A promising move by Omid Alishah set up Ali Alipour, but his shot sailed just wide of the goal.
- Minute 12: A swift one-touch play from Mohammad Khodabandelou to Bifouma was thwarted by a last-ditch clearance from a Gol Gohar defender.
- Minute 18: Ali Alipour’s first-time volley flew over the crossbar.
- Minute 45+2: A header from Reza Jafari forced a sharp save from Persepolis’s keeper, Peyman Niazmand.
- Minute 61: Omid Alishah’s direct free-kick was expertly pushed away by goalkeeper Gerousian.
- Minute 74: A cross from Ali Alipour led to the decisive penalty incident.
The draw extends a run of frustrating results for Persepolis, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning when the team will find the winning formula to break the cycle of stalemates.