AFC - Reigning Iranian League champions Sepahan suffered their first league defeat of the new season with a shocking 2-0 reverse at home against Saipa on Saturday.

The ACL quarter-finalists, who were chasing the match following Sajjad Shahbazzadeh’s 28th minute goal, were reduced to ten men in the 55th minute. Saipa, to whom Sepahan did a league-double last season, finished off in style after a stoppage time strike from Milad Gharibi.

Leaders Sepahan dropped down to the second place after Saba Qom managed a 1-1 draw against Fajr Sepasi on the same day. Malavan and Tractor Sazi both have chances to claim the top spot after fifth round of the league as they are in action on Sunday.

Sepahan will entertain Al Ahli at the Foolad Shahr Stadium on September 19 in the first-leg of the ACL quarter-final while the 2007 AL runners-up travel to Saudi Arabia for the return leg, which will be played at Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah on October 2.