Zob Ahan reclaim lead

AFC – TEHRAN, AFC Champions League quarter-finalists Zob Ahan overcame Saba Battery 2-1 to reclaim the Iran Pro League lead on goal difference after seven rounds.

Mansour Ebrahimzadeh’s charges are level on 16 points with Persepolis but lead on better goal difference.

Igor Castro and Seyed Mohammad Hosseini Farimani gave Zob Ahan a 2-0 lead while Farzad Hatami pulled one back for Saba.

Zob Ahan will host defending Asian champions Korea Republic’s Pohang Steelers in the first leg of their ACL quarter-finals on September 15 before travelling to Pohang for the return leg a week later.

Former leaders Persepolis were held 1-1 by Foolad when Mohammad Nouri’s 36th-minute opener for the Reds was cancelled out by Omid Khouraj in the first half stoppage time.

A 82nd-minute strike from Arash Borhani helped Esteghlal edge past Sepahan 4-3 and go third in the table with 12 points.

Milad Meydavoodi scored a brace while Farhad Majidi scored a goal for Esteghlal while Hashem Beikzadeh opened Sepahan’s account before Milorad Janjus scored a double.

In other matches, Steel Azin lost 1-0 to Teraktor, Shahin beat Rah Ahan 2-0, Malavan defeated Sanat Naft 2-1, Shahrdari went down 4-2 to Peykan, Pas held Saipa 2-2 and Naft played a 1-1 draw with Mes.