TEHRANTIMES - Persepolis football team earned last-gasp victory over 10-man Sepahan in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Sunday.

Hadi Norouzi scored Persepolis’s sole goal in the injury time and paved the way for the arch-rival Esteghlal to win the IPL title.

Australian defender Milan Susak received his second yellow card in the 66th minute, leaving Sepahan down to 10 men.

“Persepolis deserved to win. They put us under pressure and we were forced to defend. In my opinion this defeat is not a painful event. Also, I think the referee made mistake by sending our player off,” Sepahan coach Zlatko Kranjcar said in the post-match news conference.

Elsewhere, Traktorsazi kept its title hopes alive with a 2-1 win over struggling Gahar in an away game. Javad Kazemian and Mehdi Seyed Salehi scored for the visiting team in the 56th and 63rd minutes and Taghi Naeini pulled a goal back for Gahar in the dying moments of the match.

Rah Ahan edged past Damash thanks to a goal from Farzad Ashoobi before the hour mark in a home game.

The victory left Persepolis 14 points adrift of IPL leader Esteghlal. Traktorsazi and Sepahan are second and third.

Video of Iran Pro League week 26