Table-toppers Esteqlal, Pirouzi start 2nd mid-season with victory

Sohrab Entezari

Tehran, March 9, IRNA -- The old archrivals Esteqlal and Pirouzi started the second mid-season of Iran Pro League with wins in the 14th week. 
The popular soccer squad of Tehran, Esteqlal, remained at the top of table with 30 points after national midfielder Sirous Dinmohammadi unleashed a goal-bound free-kick in the 11th minute, kissing the net of Shiraz's Barq. 
During the derby played Thursday on the pitch of Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Abdollah Qossi and Armenian goalkeeper Maeis Azizian of Barq received their marching orders in the 65th and 76th minutes respectively and Pirouz Qorbani of Esteqlal was also sent off in the 94th minute (injury time). 
Pirouzi of Tehran also added three points to its asset with a win over Foulad of Khuzestan Friday. 
Clashing in front of 20,000 passionate fans in Ahvaz, the reds defeated Foulad 2-1 after striker Sohrab Entezari ended his goal drought and scored twice for his side. 
The two late goals of Entezari came in the 47th and 90th minutes and Ehsan Shirmardi scored the sole goal of Foulad in the 75th minute. Pirouzi has now 26 points and is placed at the second spot of the table. 
In Hafezieh Stadium of Shiraz, the home team of Fajr-e Sepassi was beaten Friday by visitor Sepahan of Isfahan 1-0. 
Afshin Hajipour netted for the Isfahani side in the 26th minute. Sepahan's Foulad Mobarakeh was reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute following the expulsion of Javad Mohaqeqian. The victory gave Sepahan the third place in the table. 
Another representative of Isfahan, Zob-e Ahan, routed Malavan of Bandar Anzali 4-1 in Foulad Shahr Stadium Friday. 
Mojtaba Nazeri celebrated his goal in the first minute and his teammates Hamid Aziz-Zadeh, Amir Vaziri and Ebrahim Taqipour added three more goals in the 54th, 71st and 81st minutes respectively. Bijan Hosseini converted the penalty for Malavan in the 9th minute. Winning 23 points, Zob-e Ahan is at the fourth place of the table 
in the 14th week.