TEHRAN -- Striker Payan Ra'fat steered popular soccer team of the capital, Persepolis, to a victory over Pas Thursday evening in the 8th week of Iran Pro League (IPL) commemorating late Hossein Soroudi.

Playing on the uneven, muddy pitch of Takhti Stadium, south of Tehran, the red-clad side added three points to its asset as Ra'fat receiving a superb pass from right winger Hassan Khanmohammadi patted the ball into an empty net, scoring the sole goal of the match in the 17th minute.

Pas came close to equalizer in the 64th minute as substitute Bahram Esmaeili, who replaced Khodadad Azizi fired a nice shot hitting the reds' post.

One minute to the injury time of second half, Pas reduced to 10 men as Hamid Sar-Abadani received his marching orders from referee Masoud Moradi for second bookable offense.

Persepolis retained the second spot of IPL table, pursuing the leader Sepahan of Isfahan.

According to IRNA, Esmaeil Safiri and Hatam Bakpour were the linesmen.