Saipa supersubs hold 10-man Persepolis

IRNA - Supersubstitutes Mohsen Arzani and Javad Ashtiani found the net after the restart to hold the 10-man Persepolis to a 2-2 tie in the 17th week of the fifth Iran Pro League in Azadi Stadium, west of Tehran, Thursday.

The red-shirted Persepolis licking its wound following last week's humiliating 4-2 loss to lowly Fajr-e Sepassi took the lead in the 19th minute when striker Sohrab Entezari headed home an Ebrahim Assadi corner.

But the opener left a bittersweet taste on the palates of fans and the reds in the dugout as Entezari received his marching orders from Asian Referee of the Year Massoud Moradi for his second bookable offense -- taking off his shirt as a gesture of jubilation.

The absent-minded striker, who had been already booked for a wild foul, reduced to tears and watched the remaining 70 minutes from the stand.

Persepolis, however, celebrated the second on 27 minutes following a spectacular inswinging free-kick from striker Javad Kazemian.

Saipa manager Bijan Zolfaqar-Nassab, who had capitalized on Entezari's blooper and planned to cement his side's second place in the table, threw on Arzani and Ashtiani.

The duo gave positive responses to their trainer's confidence.

Arzani rifled home with a powerful drive from edge of the area in the 62nd minute and Ashtiani outpaced Persepolis defender Ali Ansarian before beating the helpless keeper Farshid Karimi in a man-to-man challenge 10 minutes from time.

Persepolis, whose in-form fullback Karim Baqeri was stretchered off the field minutes after Saipa's opener, was killing time to extract a draw.

Substitute Ali Ebrahimian sent the chills down to the reds' spines when his point-blank header in the third minute of stoppage time rattled the near post.

Both Saipa and Persepolis retained their spots -- second and eighth respectively -- but the reds could move down to the 11th place if Abu Moslem gets the better of Barq with a four-goal cushion in Friday's game.

Pas will leapfrog Saipa on goal difference in case it outclasses the capital's pacesetter Esteqlal with a most unlikely seven-goal lead in Friday's mouthwatering derby.

Saipa has garnered 30 points out of 17 matches and Persepolis has 22 points.