Two seasons ago, the 17th season of the Persian Gulf Premier League, Esteghlal Goalkeeper Seyed Hossein Hosseini reached a milestone with his club by keeping a clean sheet fo 872 minutes., the longest any goalkeeper has managed in the history of the league competition.
This season, the 19th edition, Payam Niazmand (Sepahan Esfahan) and Mohammad Rashid Mazaheri’s (Tractorsazi Tabriz) are rapidly challenging that record by their excellent performances for their clubs.
The two Team Melli goalkeepers are in close competition with each other to break that record and also for the title of the best goalkeeper of the season. The two goalkeepers have kept their doors closed for 630 minutes (7 consecutive matches) minutes this season, however, Niazmand also kept a clean sheet from last season final game, while he kept 80 minutes from the previous match so his tally of clean sheet stands at 802 minutes.
in order to break Seyed Hossein Hosseini’s record, the 24 years old Niazmand needs to keep one more clean sheet for more than 70 minutes of the next match against Saipa at home.
On the other hand, while Naizmand and Mazaheri have been exceptionally good this season in the league, the regular Team Melli custodian, Alireza Beiranvand has not been so fortunate as his rivals. Beiranvand has conceded 5 goals and his team Persepolis has dropped to the 5th position. The goalkeeper who was instantly a hit after saving Cristiano Ronaldo’s spot-kick and a penalty against Cambodia failed to repeat the same against Bahrain.
Persian Gulf Pro League Table & Standings
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | PTS | Form | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Sepahan | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | +10 | 17 | W W W D D |
| 2 | |
Tractor | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | +8 | 17 | W W W W D |
| 3 | |
Shahr Khodrou | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 3 | +5 | 16 | W W D L W |
| 4 | |
Foolad | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 4 | +2 | 12 | W W D W D |
| 5 | |
Sanat Naft | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 3 | +2 | 12 | D W W D L |
| 6 | |
Persepolis | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 12 | W L L W W |
| 7 | |
Naft MIS | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 5 | +2 | 11 | W W D D D |
| 8 | |
Esteghlal | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 9 | W W D L D |
| 9 | |
Nassaji | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 12 | 14 | -2 | 9 | L D D W L |
| 10 | |
Pars Jam | 7 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 7 | -1 | 7 | D L D W D |
| 11 | |
Machine Sazi | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 13 | -4 | 7 | L D W L L |
| 12 | |
Saipa | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 14 | -5 | 7 | L L L L W |
| 13 | |
Paykan | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 13 | 14 | -1 | 5 | L L D W D |
| 14 | |
Zob Ahan | 7 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | -4 | 4 | L L D D D |
| 15 | |
Gol Gohar | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 8 | -5 | 3 | L L L L D |
| 16 | |
Shahin | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 14 | -10 | 1 | L L L L D |