TEHRANTIMES - Zob Ahan has retained its spot in the Iran Professional League (IPL) courtesy of a 5-3 aggregate win over Pas in the relegation playoff on Wednesday.

Pas was held to a 1-1 draw by Zob Ahan in Hamedan’s Qods Stadium.

Vahid Aliabadi gave Pas a lead just four minutes into the match. In the 25th minute, Pas keeper Masoud Gholamalizad was sent off by referee Saeid Mozaffarizadeh.

Zob Ahan striker Mohsen Bayatinia was also sent off in the 29th minute, but one minute later Mehdi Rajabzadeh equalized the match.

Zob Ahan had defeated Pas 4-2 in the first leg in Isfahan last week.

Iran Professional League will be reduced from 18 to 16 teams in the next season.

Aluminium, Sanat Naft, Paykan and Gahar have already been relegated from the IPL.

Gostaresh Foolad and Esteghlal of Khuzestan have already won promotion to IPL.