Esteghlal football team defeated Padideh 2-1 to move up to second place in the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Saturday.

In the match held in Mashhad, Moein Abbasian scored for Padideh in the 34th minute but Omid Noorafkan equalized the match with a long-range shot in the 57th minute.

With nine minutes remaining, Jaber Ansari scored the winner for the visiting team.

In Isfahan, Tractor Sazi lost to Sepahan 2-0 to drop to third place in IPL standing table.

Mehrdad Mohammadi scored in the 41st minute and Farid Behzadi extended the lead in the 89th minute.

IPL champions Persepolis were held to a 3-3 draw by Zob Ahan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

The Reds came from 3-1 behind to draw 3-3 with Isfahan based club.

Sanat Naft lost to Foolad 1-0 in the home match and Siah Jamegan edged past already relegated Machine Sazi.

Esteghlal Khuzestan and Gostaresh Foolad played out a goalless draw, Paykan defeated Saipa 2-0 and Naft Tehran lost to Saba 2-1.