Khalatbari - Rah Ahan

PLDC - Tehran, With a victory over Rah Ahan Sorinet, Persepolis was finally able to sit on top of the Iran Pro League table after 110 weeks. Also, Tractor Sazi brought the pain to Ahvaz, and Saipa handed Fajr a home defeat.


Persepolis visited Rah Ahan in Tehran's Takhti Stadium and defeated their hosts with a single goal. This was The Reds' first away victory of the season, which they gained under heavy rain fall.

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari scored a beautiful free kick in the 46th minute, and the Team Melli player's lone goal was enough to secure three points for Persepolis.

In the 67th minute, Seyed Salehi headed the ball to the cross-bar of Rah Ahan's net and shook the Locomotive Drivers up.

Despite Rah Ahan's hustle and push towards the end of the game, the Locomotive Drivers failed to equalize, even though they got as close as hitting the frame of the net in the 89th minute.

With this victory, Persepolis is now on top of the IPL with 26 points, and ahead of Foolad only by goal difference. However, the Football Federation's Disciplinary Committee deducted a point from Persepolis last week, and with that point The Reds would have been a point ahead of Foolad. Mohammad Nouri received the only yellow card of the match.

Elsewhere, Saipa defeated Fajr Sepasi in Shiraz with a lone goal from Shahbazzadeh. Ghezel Ghochli from Fajr and Shakoori from Saipa were given yellow cards, and Ali Zeynali from Saipa was ejected from the match in the 53rd minute.

And the highest scoring match of the day took place in Ahvaz between Esteghlal Khuzestan and Tractor Sazi. The visitors from Tabriz defeated their hosts 4-1, with goals from Ansarifard (8', 83', 87' Hat-trick) and Gordani (43'). Karim Ansarifard seems to be back in top form after last season's mediocre performance. Meydavoodi scored the only goal for the hosts in the 44th minute. The following players received yellow cards: Khalafzadeh and Mobali from Esteghlal Khuzestan, and Ahmadzadeh, Fakhrodini, Assadi and Kiani from Tractor Sazi.

Video of Iran Pro League week 14

By: Arman Tamjidi
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