Blues extend lead atop IPL table

PTV – TABRIZ, Esteghlal has defeated Shahrdari in the 15th week of the Iranian Premier League (IPL), increasing its gap with the second team of the league table, Teraktorsazi.

The Blues edged past Shahrdari 2-1 at Yadegar-e Emam Stadium in the latter’s northwestern hometown of Tabriz on Saturday to consolidate their place atop the table with 33 points.

Esteghlal started out well and got the lead 19 minutes into the match, when Arash Borhani found the ball inside the box and tapped in.

Five minutes before the break, Farhad Majidi earned a penalty for the Blues. He himself stepped up and doubled the lead for the IPL pacesetter.

Shahrdari did not make any changes in the score-sheet until the dying minutes of the match, when Mehrdad Ghanbari pulled one back for the hosts.

Also on Saturday, Zob Ahan was held to a 1-1 draw against Sepasi at its central hometown of Isfahan’s Fouladshahr Stadium. Mohammad Ghazi scored the opener for Sepasi three minutes to the final whistle, but Mohammad-Mehdi Nazari equalized with just seconds left on the clock.

In other matches of the day, Sepahan and Shahin played out to a 1-1 tie, Mes Sarcheshmeh blanked Mes 2-0, Naft Tehran lost to Naft Abadan 3-1, Foulad and Rah Ahan finished scoreless, and Saba was downed by Damash through a solo.

On Friday, Persepolis lost its home match against Teraktorsazi 1-0 and Malavan tied 1-1 against Saipa on its own turf in the northern city of Bandar-Anzali.