Saba sourly snatches Super Cup

IRNA - League Cup winner Saba Battery was crowned at Iran's first Super Cup in Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium, west of Tehran, Sunday.

Saba stunned the fourth Iran Pro League holder Foulad 4-0 in a violent game.

National skipper Ali Daei hit his double and Robert Marcusi and Yadollah Akbari netted one each.

Foulad of southern Khuzestan Province reduced to 10 men after national keeper Ebrahim Mirzapour picked a serious back injury and the manager had already fielded three subs.

The situation was aggravated for the IPL champion as aggressive defender Jalal Kameli-Mofrad received his marching orders from Asian Referee of the Year, Massoud Moradi, who also red-carded Saba right winger Mohammad Navazi for the duo's unsportsmanship.

The sour match could turn to a scuffle one minute from normal time when the IPL's MVP Iman Mob'ali stamped on foot of Daei, who angrily rushed to the talented midfielder but refused to punish him personally as Moradi sent the playmaker-cum-goalscorer off.

"I am really sorry for such a player (Mob'ali)," said Daei after the match adding, "I wonder why the press supports him."