Table-topper SAIPA disposes of Pas

IRNA - Pacesetter SAIPA struck one in each half to beat home side Pas 2-1 in the 13th week of the sixth Iran Pro League here Monday.

Pas possessed the ball and field before the interval, making a host of attacks on the automakers' woodwork, but it was the league leader that celebrated the opener.

Player-cum-manager Ali Daei headed home seconds into stoppage time.

The home team, however, was on level terms 10 minutes after the restart when Abbas Aqaei's 25-yard free-kick kissed the net.

SAIPA retook the lead in the 67th minute through defender Hamid-Reza Farzaneh, who drilled home a Darioush Yazdani corner with a header.

The victory helped SAIPA widen its gap with Tehran's Esteqlal, which was beaten by Paykan 1-0 Sunday.

SAIPA has 30 points, three more than Esteqlal's asset.

Earlier in the day, Malavan and the visiting Persepolis struggled to a scoreless draw, Mes stunned Esteqlal of Ahvaz 3-1, Fulad was defeated by Barq 2-1, Fajr-e Sepassi and Sepahan tied 1-1.

Saba Battery and Abu Moslem split the points with a 1-1 draw Sunday and the Zob Ahan-Rah Ahan game, due to heavy snowfall, was postponed.