TEHRAN – Esteghlal football team defeated Saba 3-0 in Iran Professional League (IPL) on Friday. 

 

The Blues are only one point behind IPL leader Sepahan. 

 

In the match held in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, Esteghlal captain Pejman Montazeri opened the scoring after 16 minutes. Ten minutes later, Goran Jerkovic headed the ball into the goal and Meysam Hosseini scored Esteghlal’s third goal two minutes before the interval.

 

Saba was the dominant team in the second half and they hit the bar three times during the match but could not score just one goal.  

 

“We did well in the first half, however it was raining and our players were sliding on the field. We could have scored more goals but our strikers didn’t take advantage of their chances,” Esteghlal coach Parviz Mazloumi said in the post-match news conference.  

 

Elsewhere, Sanat Naft was held to a 1-1 draw against Zob Ahan, Damash beat struggling Mes of Sarcheshmeh 2-1, Sepasi defeated Malavan 2-0, Mes saw off Shahin 3-2, Saipa lost to Rah Ahan 1-0, Traktorsazai defeated Foolad 2-0 and Naft and Shahrdari played out a goalless draw.