Tehrantimes - Esteghlal football team defeated Saipa 1-0 on Wednesday in Iran Professional League (IPL).

Sajjad Shabazzadeh was on target in the 45th minute.

Esteghlal’s Iraqi midfielder Karrar Jassim was shown his second yellow card in the 84th minute.

The Blues are second in IPL, one point adrift of leader Naft who was held to a 1-1 at Isfahan with Sepahan.

Sepahan defender Hadi Aghili found the back of the net just 11 minutes into the match from the penalty spot.

Abbas Buozar scored for the Naft in the 78th minute. IPL leader was reduced to 10-man in the 63rd minute when Mohammad Amin Hajmohammadi was sent off after receiving his second yellow card.

Paykan drew 1-1 at home against Gostaresh Foolad.

Gostaresh’s Brazilian midfielder Mango Batista was on target for the visiting team in the 32nd minute and Saeid Daghighi leveled the match just before the halftime.

Naft remains one point clear at the top of IPL, followed by Esteghlal, Sepahan and Foolad, who has one game in hand.

Video of Iran Pro League week 19