Sports > Football > PERSEPOLIS WIN PGL, WHAT COST SEPAHAN THE LEAGUE BY AFSHIN DASTAFSHAN
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Persepolis FC won the pro league in Iran on May 17th and became the first team to win the title twice, Sepahan the most successful team in Iran in recent seasons finished runners-up in what was a heartbreaking final showdown for them on the last day of the season.
Sepahan had yet another great season this year; they are the most professional and well organised club in Iran at the moment. Sepahan made history by becoming the first Iranian club to reach the final of Asian Champions League (ACL) and qualified for World Club Football championship. Sepahan beat Persepolis in week 17 inflicting the first defeat of the season on them.
In the New Year Sepahan lost their head coach Luka Bonacic before they kicked off their fourth ACL campaign in five seasons, the incoming head coach Jorvan Vieira, an experienced reputable Brazilian coach needed time to adjust to the team and Iran football, by this time Sepahan had dropped points in PGL and lost their first two matches in ACL, whilst a new coach often improves things in the club when the team is failing it is hard to maintain the momentum for a newly arrived coach in the middle of the season when the club is already doing well, the departure of Bonacic was costly to Sepahan both in PGL and ACL, taking nothing away from Vieira who is a top Brazilian coach.
Sepahan were also marred by injuries and suspensions at crucial times this season, the ongoing absence of influential midfielder Moharram Navidkia was a big blow to Sepahan, the deadly striker Mahmoud Karimi also missed the latter part of the season due to injury. Sepahan continue to share Fooladshahr stadium with Zobahan whilst Naghsheh Jahan stadium is repaired, this is hardly an ideal situation for a club representing Iran in Asia! Sepahan have also had to play too many games in a short period of time (in ACL, Hazfi Cup, PGL & world club championship), a team playing in so many tournaments simultaneously will require a larger squad to cater for injuries and suspensions (Bengar picked up a red card in ACL for instance). Considering all constraints Sepahan have had to endure and the number of tournaments they have participated in they should be pleased with their achievements.
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Persepolis had their ups and downs this season also, although they finished at the top of the league at half way point before winter break they had lost their touch and were not playing the good football they played earlier in the season. In the latter part of the season though Persepolis managed to step up a gear and a lot of credit should go to their head coach Afshin Ghotbi who had to deal with internal wrangling in a corrupt and inefficient football system.
One cannot deny supremacy of Persepolis in the final showdown against Sepahan on May 17th with 62% possession, Persepolis played with a hunger to win, Sepahan relied on counter-attacks knowing they needed a draw only, also playing at Tehran’s Azadi stadium in front of an estimated 110,000 fans most of whom were Persepolis supporters was not an easy task. Sepahan’s passive play in the latter stages of the match defending in numbers in their half was to lead to their downfall deep into injury time. Questions were asked on how 7 minutes of added time was justified; clearly the referee Mr Mozafarizadeh took time wasting into account and not just injury time. Sepahan had 9 players yellow carded compared with 1 Persepolis player, Persepolis had one player sent off in the celebrations that followed their 96th minute goal.
It is expected that Iran will have 3 teams in the Asian Champions League next season as opposed to the current 2 spots; Sepahan should therefore qualify for next season’s ACL as PGL runners-up even if they don’t win Hazfi Cup.
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