Second-division Saipa Mehr came tantalizingly close to creating a major upset in the tournament, after they managed to keep the premier league leaders at bay for the entire 90 minutes and extend the game into extra time.
The second-division club, however, finally succumbed to Esteqlal pressure in the 105th minute of the game after Saipa Mehr defender Ali Ahamdi inadvertently put the ball into his own net following a cross by Esteqlal player Javad Shirzad.
Saipa Mehr Karaj was also reduced to ten men after Rouhollah Nemati received his second yellow card of the day in the 112th minute, Fars News Agency reported on Monday.
“Playing against unknown teams is always very difficult. They (Saipa Mehr) had created a multilayered defense against our offensive line,” Esteqlal Coach Parviz Mazloumi said after the game.
Esteqlal will now have to line up against Persepolis in the quarterfinals. The Reds defeated Zob Ahan 3-2 at Isfahan's Fouladshahr stadium on Sunday.
In the other quarterfinal games Foulad Khouzestan meets Shahrdari Yasouj, Damash Gilan faces Shahin Bushehr and Saba Qom locks horns with Mes Kerman.
The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition run by the Iranian Football Federation. One of Iran's Asian Football Confederation Champions League spots is up for grabs for the Hazfi Cup champions.