Sepahan pays the penalty

MNA – The AFC Champions League runner-up Sepahan was held by promoted San’at Naft to a 2-2 tie as it conceded a late penalty in Abadan, southern Iran, Saturday.

Playing the first match of the 16th week of the 7th Iran Pro League, Sepahan opened the scoring two minutes from the break, but the visitor’s opener was canceled out by striker Leonardo one minute into stoppage time.

The Isfahan-based Sepahan retook the lead on the hour mark through fullback Hadi Aqili, who capitalized on a goalkeeping blunder.

Naft heaped pressure on the visiting side’s woodwork, securing the parity one minute from normal time. Sepahan goalie Abbas Mohammadi brought down Saber Mir-Baqeri in the box and was booked by the referee Mas’ud Moradi. Mohammadi was sent off for his second bookable offense after he pushed the ref as a gesture of opposition.

It was a big blow on Sepahan as it dropped two points when Leonardo celebrated his double by converting the spot-kick.

Sepahan lies in second place of the 18-strong standings on 30 points, following pacesetter Persepolis with two games in hand.

Persepolis has garnered 35 points.