PTV - Tehran's red-clad men
edge out Saipa 1-0 to move closer to the top of the table on Saturday at the
end of the premier league season.
The Red-men picked up three points, just six minutes into the end of the
match, thanks to a late self-goal by Saipa's keeper Misaq Me'marzadeh
Persepolis' veterans Hussein Ka'abi and Karim Baqeri were in the line-up but
Ali-Reza Nikbakht Vahedi, Pejman Nouri and Abbas Aqai were off the list to
surprise Saipa in a match played before 60,000 fans at the Azadi football
pitch in Western Tehran.
The match was even in the first half. The Red-men appeared more aggressive
in the second half, relying on the agile left winger Hussein Ka'abi's
attacks, but the Red-men's strikers lost several goal chances.
Ali Daei's Saipa side failed to take lead from the Red-men despite his
efforts to shock Persepolis through counterattacks.
Saipa's hope for a single score was dashed when a 59th minute shootout was
saved by the goalpost.
Daei left the pitch frustrated, blaming the referee for the use of his
whistle.
