Esteghlal finishes runner-up in IPL

PTV – TEHRAN, Esteghlal has blanked Pas Hamedan with two goals in the last week of Iran’s Premier League (IPL) to cement the second place in the standings.

Esteghlal showed a good football at Hamedan’s Ghods Stadium on Friday and managed to stand second in the 10 edition of the IPL.

The capital-based club opened the scoring in the 36th minute through an outstanding overhead kick into Pas’s empty net by Arash Borhani.

Captain Farhad Majidi doubled the tally for the Blues about 10 minutes to the final whistle to seal the victory for the guests.

The result sees Pas going down to Iran’s first division.

The 34th week of the IPL wrapped up with eight other matches on Friday.

Sepahan, which had already won the title last week, lost to Saipa 2-1 in Karaj, but lifted the IPL cup and celebrated its second consecutive championship.

Karim Ansarifard scored the opener for Saipa in the 34th minute and doubled the lead only six minutes later. Sepahan’s Serbian forward Milorad Janjus then reduced the deficit one minute to hour mark.

In another match, Persepolis thrashed Peykan 5-1 at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium to finish fourth in the standings. The loss sent Peykan to Iran’s first division.

Also on Friday, Zob Ahan defeated the already-relegated Steel Azin 2-0 to take the third place in the table.

Teraktorsazi overpowered Naft Abadan 3-1 to claim the fifth spot of the IPL table, and Naft Tehran edged past Shahin 1-0.

Foulad also downed Shahrdari 2-0, Malavan beat Saba with the same result, and Rah Ahan and Mes played out a 2-2 draw.

Sepahan won the championship with 66 points, Esteghlal stood second one point shy of Sepahan, Zob Ahan is third on 63 points, and Persepolis finished fourth with 58 points.