Mansour Ebrahimzadeh’s charges lost to leaders Traktor 1-0 following their 2-2 draw with Rah Ahan in the opener.
Mohammad Ghazi Najafabadi scored the match-winner for Zob Ahan five minutes from time.
Traktor recorded their second victory of the season beating Shahin 1-0 to go a point clear at the 18-team table. Mohammad Hassan Ebrahimi scored Traktor’s all-important goal in the 27th minute. They are now on six points, a point more than Shahrdari and Malavan.
Shahrdari shocked Persepolis 2-1 with goals from Meysam Baou and Vouria Ghafouri. Ali Karimi netted Persepolis’ consolation goal in the stoppage time.
Mohammad Nezhati, Alireza Jarahkar, Alireza Daghaghleh and Zoran Zlatkovaski were on target in Malavan’s 4-0 thrashing of Mes Sar.