Tehrantimes - Esteghlal football team defeated Saipa 2-0 in the ninth week of Iran Professional League in front of 30,000 fans in Tehran’s Azadi stadium on Friday.

Substitute Mohsen Karimi in the 76th minute and Jaber Ansari in the 82nd minute scored two goals as the Blues earned their best win of the season so far. This was Esteghlal’s first win of the season with a two-goal margin.

Elsewhere in Isfahan, Sepahan edged past Siah Jamegan thanks to goals from Ehsan Haji Safi and Jalaleddin Alimohammadi. Sepahan moved up to sixth place with 13 points.

This season’s surprise Sanat Naft beat Machine Sazi 3-0 to climb to fourth place with 13 points. Padideh and Peykan played out a goalless draw while Saba held to a goalless draw against Gostaresh Foolad.

Earlier on Thursday, league leader Persepolis was held to a 1-1 draw against defending champion Esteghlal Khouzestan while Tractor Sazi was held to a 2-2 draw against Foolad. Naft Tehran also defeated Zob Ahan 2-1.

Persepolis is at the top with 19 points while Tractor Sazi and Naft Tehran are in second and third places respectively with 17 and 15 points.

Video of Iran Pro League week 9