TEHRAN -- Esteqlal owes its leadership to Zob Ahan that hammered Pas 3-0 in the 26th week of the fifth Iran Pro League in Fuladshahr Stadium, central capital Isfahan, Saturday.

Pas squandered three scoring chances before halftime as striker Arash Borhani failed to find the net after 25 minutes and his teammate Mohsen Bayatinia threw away two opportunities on 42 and 43 minutes.

The visitor paid the price for its lackadaisical performance, conceding a 3-0 humiliating defeat.

Pas that needed a draw to retain the top spot on goal difference fell behind three minutes into second half as Esmaeil Farhadi’s low cross took a vicious deflection off a Pas defender into the net.

Borhani should have leveled the game in the 61st minute when he had only the keeper to beat, but his kick was disappointing.

Zob doubled the cushion in a swift counterattack on 72 minutes as Majid Bajelan found the net with a well-flighted lob.

Right winger Mehdi Rajabzadeh dribbled past his marker five minutes from time to beat helpless keeper Saman Safa with a side-footed drive. The licking left Pas in the second place with 48 points, one shy of Tehran’s Esteqlal.

In another Saturday’s game, promoted Rah Ahan stunned Sepahan 2-1.

Hadi Asghari took the lead for Rah Ahan after 16 minutes, but his opener was responded by Abbas Aqaii just before break.

Rah Ahan, however, grabbed a late winner as Ahmad Taqavi fired home on 85 minutes. Malavan rout

Persepolis came from one goal down to trounce the home team Malavan 3-1 Takhti Stadium in Bandar Anzali, northern Gilan Province, Friday.

Malavan had a dream start as Mohammad Gholamin took the lead from penalty spot after five minutes.

But Persepolis defender Shayth Rezaii, who conceded the penalty, leveled the match on 16 minutes with a powerful drive from close range.

The visitor made it 2-1 through the advancing defender Ali Ansarian, who headed home a trademark long throw from striker Ali Alizadeh one minute later.

Alizadeh celebrated the third in the 21st minute, poking home a Mehrzad Madanchi cross.

Some 15,000 fans watched the match in a cold day.

Fereydoun Esfahanian refereed the match. Fazli double

Top marksman Fereydun Fazli hit two to inspire Esteqlal of southern city of Ahvaz into a 2-1 home victory over Fajr-e Sepassi in Takhti Stadium in Shushtar Friday.

The striker grabbed his opener in the 56th minute and celebrated the second one minute later.

Mojtaba Zare scored the visitor's consolation goal in the 62nd minute.

More than 3,500 fans were in the stadium.

Assisted by linesmen Reza Sokhandan and Mohsen Narimani, referee Mohsen Torki judged the game. Fulad victorious

Holder Fulad overcame the home side Barq 1-0 in Hafezieh Stadium in Shiraz, capital of southern Fars Province, Friday.

Asghar Rameshgar scored the sole goal of the match in the 31st minute of the action-filled game.

Barq came close to the equalizer after 63 minutes when referee Iraj Nazari showed the penalty spot.

But the home team missed the chance as Mehdi Shiri's spot-kick did not find the woodwork.

About 3,000 spectators watched the match. Daei winner

National skipper Ali Daei found the net after the restart to help the home team Saba Battery snatch a 1-0 win over relegation-zone Shahid Qandi in Shahid Derakhshan Stadium, west of the capital, Friday.

The veteran striker upset his former manager Majid Jalali as he grabbed the winner after 70 minutes. Saipa setback

Abu Moslem's Andranik Teymurian scored the winner in against visitor Saipa in Thamen ul-Aemmeh Stadium in the northeastern capital Mashhad Friday.

The midfielder dashed Saipa's title hopes as he gave the black-shirted Abu Moslem a 1-0 victory, scoring on 17 minutes.

Referee Khodadad Afsharian red-carded Abu Moslem player Morteza Bargizar one minute from halftime and sent off Kazem Borjlu, Javad Ashtiani, and Mohsen Arzani from Saipa in the 47th, 84th, and 91st minutes respectively.

Saipa head coach Bijan Zolfaqar-Nassab due to strong protest also received his marching orders in stoppage time.

Saipa in defiance of defeat retains the third place with 45 points and Abu Moslem is seventh on 36. Esteqlal held

Relegation-threatened Shamushak fought to a 1-1 draw against high-flight Esteqlal Friday.

The northerners silenced more than 30,000 home fans in Azadi Stadium after two minutes through Esmaeil Gharavi, who outjumped his marker in the area to head home.

Esteqlal, however, had striker Gholamreza Enayati to thank for heading home a cross from midfielder Farzad Majidi in the 19th minute.

Both sides wasted a host of scoring chances during the game.