Esteqlal whitewashes Sepahan, depleted Pirouzi falls behind

Zob-ahan's goalkeeper Ghasemi

IRNA - Leader Esteqlal drubbed Sepahan in the 23rd week of Iran Pro League Tuesday to widen its gap with archrival Pirouzi that was held by Zob Ahan in Isfahan. 
Injury-dogged Pirouzi fielded its players on the pitch of Bahman 22 Stadium, Isfahan, in front of 10 thousand football-crazy fans against home side, Zob Ahan. 
In the 12th minute, the reds' striker Sohrab Entezari ended his 
weeks-long goal drought after heading home a left midfielder Mohammad Barzegar long curling cross.
Zob secured parity in the 31st minute when defender Hamid Aziz-Zadeh escaped the reds' offside trap and tapped in.

Behrouz Rahbarifard

With injured regulars Davoud Fanaei (goalkeeper), Hamid Estili (midfielder), Reza Jabbari and Behnam Abolqassempour (strikers) and twice yellow-carded Hamed Kavianpour (midfielder) in the dugout,depleted Pirouzi was lucky enough to extract one point out of the derby.
Zob Ahan came close to victory in the 35th minute when Reza Sahebi unleashed a 35-yard unstoppable drive bounced back by crossbar.
Five minutes into the second half, unmarked Saeid Ramezani's goal-bound kick was denied by inexperienced keeper of Pirouzi, Mohammad Jonaki-Zadeh, in a man-to-man challenge. 
Winning 40 points, Pirouzi is still at the second place.
Motivated by result of Pirouzi-Zob clash, the table-topper Esteqlal of Tehran took optimal advantage and cemented its top place.
Three goals were enough to give blues an unreachable place in the table and visitor Sepahan of Isfahan a bitter loss.

Aref Mohamadvand and Hamid Azizzadeh after match

In the 9th minute, Sepahan goalie Armenak Petrossian was judged by ref Ali Khosravi to have brought down Esteqlal striker Faraz Fatemi in the box. Left winger Mohammad Navazi converted from the spot kick.
The situation was aggravated for visitor as Javad Mohaqeqian own goal made it 2-0 in the first minute of the second half.
National midfielder Sirous Dinmohammadi completed the rout, heading home a superb cross from Ahmad Mo'menzadeh five minutes from the time. 
Esteqlal leads the table with 44 points.
In other matches, Saipa beat Fajr-e Sepassi 1-0 and Foulad of Khuzestan defeated Esteqlal of Rasht 1-nil.
Three clashed ended in draw as Pas and Abu Moslem fought to a one-one tie and Tractor Sazi and Malavan found the net twice each and Barq-Paykan match finished nil-nil. 
The third-placed Pas has 39 points.

khordbin after match