Table-toppers defeated in Iran league

PTV – TEHRAN, The top three teams of the table in the Iranian Premier League (IPL) — Sepahan, Zob Ahan, and Esteghlal — have been downed by their rivals.

On an action packed Sunday, the league pacesetter Sepahan lost an away match against Mes of Kerman 3-2, Persepolis of Tehran crushed its host Zob Ahan 3-0, and Teraktorsazi edged past Esteghlal 2-1 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

Brazilian striker Luciano Edinho scored the opener for Mes in the 19th minute at Kerman’s Bahonar Stadium, but Ibrahima Toure leveled the game just two minutes later.

Edinho doubled his tally after four minutes to put his side ahead again.

Five minutes into the hour mark, Keyvan Amraei netted the third for Mes, but 10 minutes before the final whistle Hadi Aqili put in one more for Sepahan to reduce the deficit for the title defender.

At Isfahan’s Fouladshahr Stadium, Persepolis blanked Zob Ahan with an attacking style right after the kick off.

The Reds, coached by Ali Daei, created many good scoring chances in the first half but strikers missed the opportunities until the dying minutes of the first half.

Mohammad Nouri’s clear cross found Amir Hossein Feshangchi unmarked in the box, and an easy late goal by Feshangchi made the Reds leave the pitch cheering.

Persepolis controlled the tempo in the second half and seven minutes into the hour mark former Bayern Munich striker Vahid Hashemian scored his first goal in the current season of IPL with a neat chip-kick to double the lead for his side.

Nouri also joined the score sheet when he touched Feshangchi’s free-kick in the 70th minute.

Also on Sunday, Teraktorsazi beat Esteghlal in a close match.

Teraktorsazi’s Mohammad Nosrati opened the scoring for the visitors, but Mehdi Seyyed Salehi tied the match in the 33rd minute.

With only four minutes on the clock, Iraqi national Karrar Jassim Mohammed scored on a free-kick to seal the victory for the popular Tabriz-based club.

Sepahan is leading the 18-team table with 58 points, Zob Ahan is second with 53, Esteghlal sits third with one point less, while Teraktorsazi and Persepolis are on the fourth and fifth spots with 50 and 47 points, respectively.