Five weeks into Iran’s Persian Gulf League 07/08 season Saipa FC are beginning to play like the defending champions they are, an impressive second half performance gave Saipa a deserved 2-1 win over Esteghlal of Tehran, Saipa were unlucky not to have scored more goals in this match having hit Esteghlal’s goal bar twice, Saipa also had a legitimate goal disallowed thanks to referee misjudgement.  It should be noted that Esteghlal scored first in this match in 15^th minute after a defensive blunder by Saipa, but Saipa pulled level just before the first half before taking the lead in 69^th minute.  The current league champions Saipa coached by Ali Daei got off to a poor start in the season but have now moved up to 6^th place after five matches.  Saipa beat Esteghlal at home and away last season; Saipa’s second win over Esteghlal was a crunch match that virtually secured league title for Saipa, they have now pulled another win over Esteghlal.

 

Persepolis and Sepahan are leading the way with 4 wins and 1 draw each; both teams are level on 13 points but Persepolis top the table on goal difference.  Persepolis coached by Afshin Ghotbi have surprised many by their good start to the season, Afshin Ghotbi had not been to Iran for 30 years but he is now the head coach of one of Asia’s most popular teams Persepolis of Tehran.  Ghotbi has vast experience in coaching; he was the assistant coach of South Korea in 3 successive world cups (1998, 2002 & 2006) and has worked with world class coaches such as Holland’s Gus Hiddink and Dick Advocaat.  Ghotbi’s return to Iran has brought a much needed coaching quality to Iranian league football.

 

Sepahan head coach the Croat Luka Bonacic had a very good season last year and led Sepahan to quarter final stage of Asian Chamions League (ACL).  Sepahan also won Iran’s Hazfi Cup last season beating Persepolis coached by Mustafa Denizli at the time in the final.  Sepahan’s joint top position in the league will boost their confidence ahead of their ACL encounter with Japan’s Kawasaki Frontale on September 19^th.

 

Malavan of Anzali registered their third win of the season in week 5 to secure third place in the table on goal difference, they are level with Saba Battery on 11 points. The top four teams in the league (Persepolis, Sepahan, Malavan & Saba Battery) remain unbeaten so far this season.  There are 18 teams in Persian Gulf League.