TEHRAN – Holder Esteqlal of Tehran stood top in the 16-strong table of the sixth Iran Pro League (IPL) with a 1-1 draw with Abu Moslem as pacesetter SAIPA conceded a 1-0 loss to Sepahan in the 24th week Wednesday.

With both sides reduced to 10 men, the fans in Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium in central capital Isfahan rued a goal until the 87th minute, when the home striker Abdolwahhab Abulhayl scored the winner with a well-flighted curling lob from behind the box.

SAIPA loss was good news for the blue-clad Esteqlal in Thamen ul-A’emmeh Stadium of northeastern capital Mashhad as a draw was enough for the popular side to leapfrog the automakers.

Esteqlal was stunned in the first minute as Abu Moslem striker Morteza Bargizar cleared two markers to find the visitor’s net with an unstoppable left drive.

Abu Moslem had a better performance in the first half, but Esteqlal celebrated the equalizer through midfielder Meysam Bao with a crossbar-assisted left kick on 29 minutes.

The two teams split the points after failing to add to their tallies.

Esteqlal has 47 points and SAIPA’s previous 46-point asset remained unchanged.

In other games, Esteqlal of Ahvaz saw off Paykan 1-0 and Barq upset Pas 1-0.