Shams Azar Qazvin beat Nassaji Mazandaran 2-0 in the Gulf Pro League on Thursday evening. R. Mohammadi scored both goals for the visitors, opening the scoring in the twenty-seventh minute before doubling the advantage fifty-six minutes in. The result lifted Shams Azar to tenth place while Nassaji remain rooted to the bottom of the table.
And here's the thing about this match — it was never truly in doubt after that first goal. Mohammadi found space in the box and finished clinically, sending the ball past the home keeper. Nassaji tried to respond but looked disjointed, especially after losing possession in midfield. To be fair, the visitors were organized at the back and didn't give the hosts any room to build pressure.
By then the yellow card for Mohammadi in the thirty-sixth minute signalled his importance. He played the rest of the half with a target on his back but didn't let it affect his concentration. The home side had their chances but couldn't convert, and the visitors took the lead on the hour mark with a similar finish from the same player.
Nassaji made three substitutions around the seventh minute to try and change things. P. Rezazadeh, M. Sourgi and K. Moazami Goudarzi all came on but couldn't shift the momentum. The home crowd grew restless as the gap between the teams widened, and another yellow card for B. Norouzifard in the sixty-ninth minute added to the growing frustration.
Shams Azar held their nerve in the closing stages. They didn't travel to make up the numbers — this was a result earned through patience and efficiency. The visitors have now moved four points clear of the relegation zone, while Nassaji sit on just one point from four games.