Foolad Moves Top of Iran professional League

Tasnim News – TEHRAN, Foolad of Khuzestan football team defeated Esteghlal Khuzestan in Ahvaz derby, moving two points clear of Naft at the top of the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Friday.

Foolad defeated 10-man Esteghlal 3-0 at the Ghadir Stadium.

Esteghlal midfielder Mousa Coulibaly was sent off just five minutes into the match after receiving a straight red card.

Mehdi Badrlou opened the scoring three minutes later.

Cameroonian striker Aloys Nong scored twice in the 28th and 82nd minutes.

Foolad Croatian defender Leonard Mesaric also received a red card in the injury time.

Foolad moved at the top of the IPL table with 37 points after 19 weeks, two points clear of Naft.

In Tehran, Persepolis suffered its fourth successive defeat, losing to struggling Malavan 1-0 at the Azadi Stadium.

Pejman Nouri scored the only goal of the match in the 17th minute thanks to a big error from Persepolis goalie Sosha Makani.

Persepolis could have equalized the match in the 89th minute.

Malavan keeper Iman Sadeghi brought down Mohsen Bengar into the area, receiving a red card and was forced to leave the field but Brazilian midfielder Gabriel could not open the goal from the penalty spot.

Padideh also defeated Tractor Sazi 3-1 in Tabriz’s Yadegar Emam Stadium.

Reza Haghighi scored for Padideh in the 21st minute, but the match drew level four minutes before the halftime through an own goal.

Bahodir Nasimov made it 2-1 in the 45th minute and Reza Nasehi scored the third goal for the visiting team six minutes later.