9-man Zob Ahan football team which lies at the top of the IPL with one game in hand, defeated crisis-stricken Persepolis 3-1.
Prodigy Mohammad Reza Khalatbari gave the hosts a lead in the 30th minute. Persepolis keeper Mehdi Vaezi failed to catch the ball in the six-yard box and the Zob Ahan striker flicked it into the goal.
Khalatbari doubled the score one minute into the second half. Newly-bought Rahman Rezaei made a big mistake when he failed to clear the ball in the six-yard zone and Khalatbari opened Persepolis’ goal for the second time. He was immediately shown his second yellow card after provoking Persepolis’ fans.
Zob Ahan’s Mohammad Salsali got himself on the scoresheet in the 66th minute. Vaezi failed again to save the ball and Zob Ahan’s player opened his goal with a header.
Ebrahim Tore pulled a goal back for visitors in the 80th minute from the penalty spot.
He missed the penalty kick following Esmaeil Farhadi’s hand ball foul on the goal line. Zob Ahan’s player was sent off by referee Hedayat Mombeini but Persepolis could not take advantage of the opportunity.
It was Persepolis’ sixth defeat in the current season of the IPL.
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