No draw on sixth IPL opening day

MNA – The 16-strong sixth Iran Pro League Saturday started in different cities with eight wins.

Abu Moslem came from 1-0 down to celebrate a 3-2 victory over visitor Persepolis in Thamen-ul-A’emmeh Stadium in northeastern capital Mashhad.

Once Abu Moslem striker Hossein Badamaki took the lead for Persepolis with a spectacular diving header after 17 minutes, but the host responded with three goals on 26, 34, and 62 minutes.

Substitute Faraz Fatemi minimized the cushion, heading home from close range 12 minutes from time.

Holder Esteqlal was lucky enough to score a late 2-1 home win over high-flight Zob Ahan in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium.

The Blues scored the opener in the 26th minute when Zob Ahan defender committed an unnecessary foul on midfielder Alireza Akbarpur and keeper Abbas Qassemi failed to save right winger Mohammad Navazi’s trademark shootout.

The Isfahan-based Zob, however, secured the parity three minutes after the restart. Striker Mehdi Rajabzadeh hit a Hassan Ashjari curling free-kick against the near post with a header and rattled the crossbar with his second header, but it was his teammate Sepehr Heidari who headed home the rebound.

With four minutes to go, the two sides looked to have split the points, but a stroke of luck helped the home team celebrate a victory.

Advancing fullback Piruz Qorbani sent a low cross into the 5.5-yard box, taking a vicious deflection off Zob defender Majid Nurmohammadi and finding the net.

In other six games, promoted Mes of Kerman handed the IPL-winning Pas a shocking 1-0 home defeat while Sepahan edged past Malavan 2-0, Barq overcame Rah Ahan 1-0, promoted Paykan conceded a 1-0 home loss to Fulad, SAIPA saw off Fajr-e Sepassi 1-0, and Esteqlal of Ahvaz stunned the visiting Saba Battery 2-0.