Persepolis held by Zob Ahan at Azadi [VIDEO]

In the match watched by about 20,000 fans, Persepolis football team was held to a 1-1 draw in the 22nd round of the Iran’s Professional League (IPL). 

Hadi Norouzi of Persepolis was brought down by the Zob Ahan defender in the box and Mohsen Khalili converted the penalty into a goal eight minutes into the second half. 

Keyvan Amraei equalized the match in the 86th minute in favor of IPL pacesetter Sepahan of Isfahan which is scheduled to play Foolad of Khuzestan on Sunday.

The visiting team put Persepolis under pressure in the last minutes but could not take advantage of the opportunities they gained. 

It was Ali Daei’s first match in charge of Persepolis football team. The 40-year-old replaced Croat Zlatko Kranjcar who failed to see out the remaining six months of his contract with Persepolis in December. 

Sepahan sits top of the IPL standings with 43 points and two games in hand. Zob Ahan and Persepolis are second and third respectively with 41 and 34 points.