Good news from Iranian footballers that play abroad – nicknamed Legionnaires – again successful in European leagues, as we saw on 4-6 November 2016. All players are member of Team Melli, the National football team of Iran that currently leads Group A of Asian zone of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifications.
After his amazing goal that helped Rostov beating Bayern in UEFA Champions League, Sardar Azmoun scored in the week 15 of RFPL-Russian Football Premier League. The young cheetah gave his side the advantage at 41′ and then Rostov won 2:0 against Anzhi Makhachkala. 20-years-old Saeid Ezzatollahi did not enter this game, and according to rumours he could move to another European club in the incoming transfer window, like Azmoun.
In the week 14 of Eredivisie AZ Alkmaar were already beating 4:1 their opponent, Heracles Almelo, with about 10 minutes remaining until the final whistle: Alireza Jahanbakhsh came in the game at 83′ replacing Muren (who had scored a double), and after nine minutes scored AZ 5th goal with no celebration; later his coach Van den Brom expressed his happiness for the Iranian talent more than for the victory, adding that he had previously agreed with Jahanbakhsh that he was benched. The rocket goal resulted in a great solution!
Iranian duo in Greece was impressive in the week 12 of Souper Ligka Ellada, too: Panionios took the advantage at 71′ against Panathinaikos thanks to Team Melli number 10 Karim Ansarifard assisted by his compatriot Masoud Shojaei. Ansarifard celebrated the goal showing to TV cameras the jersey of his young teammate Vasilis Patsatzoglou, who recently had surgery due to a bad injury. After Ansarifard’s replacement, in the injury time Shojaei was close to score but soon after the rivals equalized.
Saman Javadi - سامان جوادی 