AFC - Sepahan might be
struggling in the AFC Champions League but maintained their dominance in the
Iran Pro League with a 2-1 win over Malavan in the 27th round on Sunday
night.
The AFC Champions League 2007 runners-up followed up on their 2-1 win last
week over two-time champions Saudi giants Al Ittihad in the continental
competition with their third straight domestic win.
Jalal Rafkhaei opened the scoring for Malavan in the 11th minute but Mahmood
Karimi restored parity for Jorvan Vieira's side in the 27th minute.
Sepahan were down to 10 men a minute after the restart after playmaker
Hossein Kazemi was given his marching orders but were aided by an own goal
by Malavan's Reza Niknazar in the 59th minute, helping the Isfahan side go
four clear atop the 18-team standings.
With seven more rounds to be played, Sepahan are on 49 points, followed by
Saba Battery on 45 points while Tehran giants Persepolis are seven off the
pace.
Sepahan, who are languishing at the bottom of the heavyweight Group A in the
AFC Champions League, face Saudiʼs Al Ittihad in the return encounter on
April 23.
