The Gostaresh Foulad Sentinel
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
A brace, and Shahriar Shojaei takes the afternoon — 8.98
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Shahriar Shojaei provided it, and the 8.98 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Player ratings28 Sep 2026
A brace, and Majid Karimi takes the afternoon — 8.56
There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Majid Karimi provided it, and the 8.56 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.
Match26 Sep 2026
Shahriar Shojaei among the goals in a wild afternoon
6 goals in one match, Shahriar Shojaei on the scoresheet, and a scoreline that will look like a misprint. Neutrals could not have asked more of Gostaresh Foulad and Zob Ahan.
Match26 Sep 2026
Shahriar Shojaei the difference as Gostaresh Foulad beat Zob Ahan
Ask anyone on the way out what separated the sides and you will get one name: Shahriar Shojaei. 4‑2 against Zob Ahan, and the applause at the whistle was mostly his.
Squad28 Sep 2026
Hasan Jafari falls out with a teammate over standards
The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.
Squad28 Sep 2026
Tempers go at Gostaresh Foulad
Shahriar Shojaei was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
Adib Zarei gets it from the manager
“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.
The dugout28 Sep 2026
A satisfied Ramin Azmoun
“The players deserve the credit. My job was easy today.” It was not, and everybody in the room knew it; after 4‑2, Ramin Azmoun could afford to be generous.
Market28 Sep 2026
The Adib Zarei story refuses to die
It has been denied twice and printed three times, which is the usual arithmetic. Until Adib Zarei signs something — a contract at Gostaresh Foulad or anywhere else — this column belongs to him.
In brief
- Player ratings Ali Nekounam was unplayable
- The dugout Mehdi Vafaei does not fit this one
- The dugout The manager makes Milad Vafaei a promise