Shock defeats for Tehran giants

MNA – TEHRAN, Persepolis suffered its fifth successive defeat in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Saturday.

Persepolis was beaten 4-1 by Saba Battery at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium in front of less than 1000 spectators.

Farzad Hatami scored Saba’s first goal just two minutes into the match. Vahid Hamdinejad doubled the score in the 28th minute. Saeid Bayat scored visitors’ third goal, opening an empty net.

Saba’s defender was sent off five minutes into the second half but Hamdinejad scored once again in the 60th minute.

Persepolis’ Sepehr Heydari scored a consolation goal during the added time.

It was Persepolis’ fifth successive loss in the IPL. The Tehran-based team had already lost to Mes, Sepahan, Paykan and Shahrdari of Tabriz.

Foolad stuns Esteghlal in IPL

Foolad of Khuzestan football team edged Esteghlal in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Sunday.

IPL’s second-placed team lost to Foolad 4-1 at the Takhti Stadium.

Siamak Sarlak gave a lead to Foolad in the 16th minute. Arash Afshin scored Foolad’s second goal in the 31st minute. Reza Noroozi opened Esteghlal’s goal four minutes later, and Reza Hamoudi rubbed salt into the Tehran-based team’s wound in the 38th minute.

Esteghlal pulled a goal back from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute by Farzad Ashoobi.
The team’s arch-rival Persepolis was defeated by Saba 4-1 at the Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

IPL leader Zob Ahan beat Mes of Kerman 1-0 in another match.