Mashad – Entering the final match day in the 2015-16 Iranian Pro League, Siah Jamegan knew they did not control their own destiny to avoid relegation from the IPL. First, they needed to beat Malavan at home in a much anticipated matchup and then needed Persepolis to beat or tie Rah Ahan at the Azadi Stadium.
Before today’s matches, Siah Jamegan sat in the fifteenth position with twenty-four points and trailed Rah Ahan by one point and Malavan by three points.
As always in the final match day of football leagues, all matches are played simultaneously. The players on the field for Siah Jamegan would only be able to focus on trying to beat Malavan while their supporters would be checking their mobile phones for updates from Tehran.
The first half was scoreless and of course that only added more suspense to the situation. In Tehran, Persepolis and Rah Ahan were also scoreless at the interval.
Seven minutes into the second half, Milad Nouri sent a pass to Hossein Zamehran at the left side of the penalty area. With the ball getting closer to the touchline, Zamehran sent the ball towards the goal with his left foot that should not have been a problem but instead the young Malavan keeper Nima Mirzazad misjudged it at the near side and the ball went under the cross bar and into the far corner to give Siah Jamegan a 1-0 lead.
It was a goal the Khorasani club needed very badly but they knew their job wasn’t done yet as there was still plenty of time remaining.
The score remained the same as minutes ticked away. By the 85th minute, it was learned that Persepolis had built a 2-0 lead against Rah Ahan. The fans in the stadium could feel it. They were almost there.
In the 90th minute, defender Hamidreza Aliasgari volleyed in a cross from the left to give Siah Jamegan a 2-0 lead. That’s the way the score stayed, Siah Jamegan beat Malavan 2-0.
Meanwhile, Persepolis defeated Rah Ahan 2-1 at the Azadi Stadium. Even though Persepolis won, they had nothing to celebrate as it wasn’t enough to catch Esteghlal Khuzestan in the standings on goal difference.
The Siah Jamegan supporters didn’t care about the Iranian Pro League title. The fans in Mashad felt their own taste of victory with the win over Malavan and the loss by Rah Ahan.
After a long and tough season, Siah Jamegan have something to celebrate as they have survived and will play in the 2016-17 Iranian Pro League season.