Pirouzi set early pace

AFC - AFTER two rounds, Tehran giants Pirouzi top the Iran Pro League (IPL) on goal difference following their 1-0 win over Abou Moslem. 

Reza Jabari got the all-important goal in the 9th minute but those expecting the floodgates to open after they had scored eight times in their first round defeat of Pegah were left disappointed. 

Pirouzi lead second-place Zob Ahan on goal difference, with the Hazfi Cup winners keeping pace after an impressive 3-0 away win over Paykan. Foulad slipped into third place despite beating Fajre Sepassi 2-0 in Shiraz as they have scored one goal less than the team from Esfahan. 

Meanwhile, reigning league champions Sepahan continued their sluggish start to the season. Farhad Kazemi’s side drew 1-1 at home with Saipa to sit in eighth position, one below newly-promoted Pegah who put their 8-2 loss to Pirouzi behind them by winning 1-0 at home against two-time league champions Pas. 

Shamoushak, who gained promotion to the IPL after winning the 2002/03 First Division title, stunned Esteghlal Ahvaz with a 2-1 away victory at the Takhti Stadium. Meysam Bao and Mostafa Mehdizadeh were the heroes for the Noshahr side while Adriano Alloys grabbed a consolation goal in injury time for Esteghlal.