Esteghlal tops IPL after Rah Ahan win [VIDEO]

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Esteghlal football team maintained its supremacy at the top of Iran Professional League (IPL) after a 1-0 win over Rah Ahan in the 22nd week in front of more than 40,000 fans at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Friday.

Mohammad Reza Khorsandnia scored the only goal of the match for Esteghlal in the stoppage time of the first half.

“We have a lot of injured players but our young players did very well in this match and I’m happy we took the three points despite our injury crisis,” Esteghlal head coach Parviz Mazloumi told reporters.

Newly-appointed Rah Ahan coach Ioannis Topalidis believes that his team didn’t deserve to lose.

“We played very well and I’m satisfied with my player’s performance. We created a lot of chances on Esteghlal goal and I believe we deserved at least a draw,” said Topalidis.

Esteghlal is now at the top with 42 points while Rah Ahan remains in the 15th place with 18 points.

Elsewhere in Mashhad, Padideh edged Malavan thanks to the 70th minute goal by Younes Shakeri while Foolad beat fifth place Saipa 1-0 in Ahvaz with Akbar Imani’s 85th winner from the penalty spot.