TEHRAN -- The second Iran Pro League (IPL) started Thursday and the two popular Tehran-based squads of the country, Esteqlal and Pirouzi, won their first matches.

In the opening match of IPL on Thursday, Esteqlal of Tehran fought back to defeat Pas.

In front of around 15,000 passionate flag-waving fans in Takhti Stadium, southern Tehran, Esteqlal that lost two times to Pas last season hit three to have a good start in the league.

Striker Rassoul Khatibi put Pas ahead in the 36th minute when he took advantage of a defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh blunder in the box, tapping the ball past blues' goalkeeper Hadi Tabatabaei. Earlier Khatibi was denied by the Esteqlal goalie in a man-to-man challenge.

With the Asian Games (under-23) winners Javad Nekounam and Mohsen Bayatinia, playmaker Khodadad Azizi and the fast-paced Khatibi, Pas won the first half 1-0 but it was stunned as the blues slotted home three times in the second time.

Substitute Alireza Nikbakht-Vahedi, who scored five goals in the Asian match against the underdog Afghanistan secured the parity for his side in the 69th minute when his header kissed the net.

The second goal of Esteqlal came 10 minutes later as substitute Ali Samereh unleashed an unstoppable shot from a tight angle in the penalty area, giving his side the lead.

One minute from the normal time, Nikbakht-Vahedi on the left flank penetrated the porous defense line of Pas sidefooting the ball for striker Faraz Fatemi, who fired home from close range.

Referee Jalal Moradi judged the match.

On Friday, visitor Pirouzi overcame Barq of Shiraz in Hafezieh Stadium packed by over 20,000 spectators.

Home fans went wild with applause in the 22nd minute as Ali Baghmisheh header found the reds' net but striker Reza Jabbari scored the equalizer three minutes before the break and netted his own and side's second in the 78th minute, giving Pirouzi a 2-1 win.

Barq reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute when Ali Abbasifar was red-carded by referee Fereydoun Esfahanian.

In other first-week matches on Friday, Fould of Khuzestan beat Esteqlal of Ahvaz 2-1, Abu Moslem defeated SAIPA 1-0, Fajr-e Sepassi thrashed Malavan 4-0, Sepahan routed Sanat Naft 4-1, and Paykan and Zob Ahan fought to a goalless tie.