Table-Toppers Tie; Blues Still Leader

TEHRAN - Top- and second-placed teams of Esteqlal and Pirouzi tied in the 19th week of Iran Pro League Friday.

Visitor Pirouzi was held 1-1 by Malavan of Anzali and Esteqlal of Tehran fought to a 2-2 draw against struggling Saipa.

Unmarked right winger Hassan Khanmohammadi slotted home in the 31st minute to put Pirouzi ahead but it was responded by Pejman Nouri whose powerful shot in the 71st minute kissed top left corner of the reds' net.

Later in Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Esteqlal fell behind as national striker of Saipa, Javad Kazemian, converted the penalty in the 25th minute.

Blues' defender, Mehdi Hashemi-Nassab, was judged to have brought down Amin Mohtashami in the penalty area.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi headed home a Mohammad Navazi curling cross, leveling the match.

Mayelikohan the head coach of Saipa injured by one of Fans after the half time!!

Midfielder Sirous Dinmohammadi made it 2-1 for Esteqlal 10 minutes later when his left in-swerving shot found the net far from the hands of Saipa keeper Behzad Gholampour.

Saipa substitute Mohsen Khalili spoiled blues' celebration as he rose in the 87th minute to head home a Javad Kazemian corner.

Esteqlal leads the table with 38 points and its archrival, Pirouzi, is at the second place winning 37 points.

Right after the half time and while Mohammad MayeliKohan , Saipa's coach was going towards the dug out, a spectator threw a stone which hit him right on the head. It is beleived that MayeliKohan lost consisnous and was bleeding. He was taken to the hospital for urgent treatment by an ambulence.
After the match ended, Nader FaryadShiran , Kohan's assistance confirmed that MayeliKohan is stable in the hospital and his injury is not as serious as feared initially.

In other matches:

Paykan and Sepahan tied nil-nil
Zob Ahan defeated bottom-placed Esteqlal of Rasht 1-0 . The main factor in victory was Hejazi'es son-in-low, Saeed Ramezani in 31th minute.
Tractor Sazi crushed Abu Moslem 4-1. Azari 23 and Hadadi 66 and Hajizadeh 84 and Fazli 94 scored for Tractor Sazi. Abu Moslem scored by Rajabi in 7th minute.
Bargh and Foolad draw 1-1 . Golas by Matori in 30th minute for Bargh and Dehghani in 47th minute for foolad.