Fifth Iran Pro League 19th-week matches

IRNA - The 19th-week matches of the 16-strong fifth Iran Pro League on Jan 19:
ABU MOSLEM BEATS EIGHT-MAN ESTEQLAL
Abu Moslem celebrated a spirit-raising 1-0 win over eight-man Esteqlal in Thamen ul-A'emmeh Stadium in northern capital Mashhad.

Majid Nour-Mohammadi, whose header from close range was parried away by in-form keeper Seyed Mehdi Rahmati, steered the rebound home in the 45th minute.

Esteqlal had been reduced to 10 men in the 41st minute when skipper Mahmoud Fekri was red-carded by referee Fereydoun Esfahanian.

Midfielder Farzad Majidi also received his marching orders on 62 minutes following a handball.

Striker Hossein Badamaki failed to convert the penalty kick in his first attempt, but he poked home the rebound. The goal, however, was controversially ruled out by the referee.

The situation went from bad to worse for the high-flying Esteqlal as it was forced to play with eight men four minutes from normal time when defender Amir-Hossein Sadeqi was sent off for his second bookable offense.

Esteqlal sticks to the heels of leader Saipa with 33 points and one match in hand.

Pacesetter Saipa has 36 points.

Abu Moslem jumps to the ninth place with 24 points.

SAIPA RETAINS TOP SPOT
Surprise package Saipa extended its winning streak and leadership with a late 1-0 win over visitor Shahid Qandi in Shariati Stadium in Karaj, 35 km west of Tehran.

Saipa extracted a victory in the 90th minute when Ebrahim Sadeqi converted a controversial penalty kick.

Former Esteqlal keeper Mohammad Tabatabaei saved the kick-spot, but Hedayat Mombeyni awarded Saipa another chance for the goalie's wrong standing position.

Qandi newly appointed manager Majid Jalali said he had watched the video several times and there was nothing wrong with Tabatabaei's position.

The veteran trainer said the referee even admitted the keeper had done nothing wrong, but he relied on his linesman's judgment.

Qandi was forced to play with 10 men in the last minutes.

Saipa stays the pacesetter with a 36-point asset and promoted Qandi is in the 15th spot on 16 points.

SEPAHAN WINS DERBY AGAINST ZOB AHAN
Sepahan snatched a 2-0 victory over Zob Ahan in their derby in Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium in central capital Isfahan.

Marksman Rassoul Khatibi opened the scoring in the 53rd minute and Moharram Navidkia recently transferred from Bundesliga-bound Bochum made it 2-0 in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Asian Referee of the Year Massoud Moradi officiated at the eagerly awaited match.

Sepahan jumps to the fourth place with 30 points and Zob Ahan moves down to sixth spot on 28 points.

FAZLI HELPS SOUTH ESTEQLAL PAST SABA
Striker Fereydoun Fazli inspired Esteqlal of southern capital Ahvaz into a 1-0 victory over visitor Saba Battery in Takhti Stadium in Shoushtar.

Goalscorer Fazli celebrated the winner on 72 minutes, sending more than 7,000 fans wild with applause.

Esteqlal had crushed the capital-based Saba Battery 4-0 in their first-leg game.

Referee Khodadad Afsharian and linesmen Hossein Nejati and Safdar Ahmadi judged the match.

Esteqlal is in the 11th place with 22 points and Saba stands eighth with 27 points.

GIANTKILLER FAJR STUNS HOLDER FOULAD
Transformed Fajr-e Sepassi hit two at home after the restart to see off holder Foulad 2-0 in Hafezieh Stadium in the southern capital Shiraz.

Under Gholam-Hossein Peyrovani, Fajr took the lead in the 71st minute as Mostafa Sadri found the net.

The home side doubled its scoring three minutes into additional time with Ali-Mohammad Dehqan firing home.

Assisted by linesmen Javad Taqipour and Sohrab Saei, Mohsen Torki refereed the game before some 5,000 spectators.

Fajr moves up to the seventh place with 28 points and Foulad is in the fifth spot with 29 points.

TA'MINI HELPS MALAVAN HOLD PAS IN DYING MOMENTS
Hadi Ta'mini grabbed an equalizer in the stoppage time to give home team Malavan a 1-1 draw with Pas in Takhti Stadium, northern port of Anzali.

Striker Mohsen Bayatinia silenced more than 6,000 Malavan fans chilling in the stands as he put Pas ahead in the 28th minute, but his opener was responded by a last-gasp effort in the second half from Ta'mini, who scored four minutes deep into additional time.

Mohammad Rafiei refereeing the action-filled clash booked Hassan Roudbarian, Mohammad-Esmaeil Nazari, Hadi Shakouri, and Bijan Koushki from Pas and Ali Hassani-Sefat and Ali Yahya-Nejad from Malavan.

Malavan officials were not satisfied with Rafiei's judgment and their protest was about to sour the match.

The draw left Pas in the third place with 32 points and Malavan in the 13th spot on 20 points.

AQA-MOHAMMADI OG DENIES RAH AHAN WIN
Reza Aqa-Mohammadi canceled out Rah Ahan's winner against visitor Barq, finding his own net in Ekbatan Stadium in Tehran.

Ahmad Jamshidian celebrated the home team's opener against the Shiraz-based Barq, but Aqa-Mohammadi presented the visiting side one point with an own goal.

Promoted Rah Ahan lies in the 12th place with 21 points and Barq occupies the 14th slot on 18 points.