TEHRAN Esteqlal of Tehran crushed Malavan of Bandar Anzali in the 13th week of Iran Pro League here Saturday to top the table.

Playing in front of 15,000 spectators in Azadi Stadium, the home team netted four times to give Malavan a bad year-end defeat.

Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi scored the opener in the 41st minute and his teammates Mohammad Mo'meni made it 3-1 after finding the net in the 71st and 78th minutes and Faraz Fatemi completed the rout his goal scored three minutes from the time.

Winning 27 points, Esteqlal is the table-topper.

Bahman Tahmassebi, striker of Shirazi Fajr-e Sepassi, headed home in the second minute to give his side a narrow victory over visitor Pirouzi Thursday.

Playing on the pitch of Hafezieh Stadium, Shiraz, the reds made numerous attacks on Fajr woodwork but did not manage to score and the sole goal of Shirazi team deprived the popular squad of Tehran of three badly-needed points.

Referee Fereydoun Esfahanian judged the match.

Pirouzi has now 23 points.