Esteqlal edges past Pas

MNA – Esteqlal celebrated a 2-1 win over Pas in the last midseason derby of the sixth Iran Pro League in an empty Azadi Stadium Friday.

The two sides played a spiritless football in the first half and a little better game after the restart.

Right winger Mohammad Navazi was key to Esteqlal badly-needed victory. Two of skipper Navazi’s curling crosses were headed home.

Morteza Hashemizadeh rose six minutes into second half to put Esteqlal ahead with a header.

Pas, however, scored the equalizer from the penalty spot in the 57th minute. Defender Amir-Hossein Sadeqi was judged by referee Khodadad Afsharian to have brought down striker Abbas Aqaii who himself converted the spot-kick.

Hashemizadeh should have doubled his own and Blues’ scoring on 62 minutes, heading the ball above the crossbar.

Esteqlal celebrated the winner in the 68th minute when the advancing defender Piruz Qorbani’s header found the net after being deflected by keeper Hassan Rudbarian.

The victory helped second-placed Esteqlal narrow the gap with pacesetter SAIPA that failed to secure its two-goal lead and was held by promoted Mes to a 2-2 draw in the southeastern capital Kerman.

SAIPA has 34 points, four more than the Blues’, and the third-placed Persepolis has collected 25 points.

Persepolis beat home side Zob Ahan 3-2 in Isfahan Thursday.

In other Friday’s games, Saba Battery and Sepahan struggled to a scoreless tie, Fajr-e Sepassi beat Paykan 1-0, and Malavan saw off Barq 2-1.

Rah Ahan and Abu Moslem also split the points with a scoreless draw Thursday.

The derby between Fulad and Esteqlal of Ahvaz, due to President Mahmud Ahmadinejad’s visit to southern Khuzestan Province, was rescheduled and the two teams meet Saturday.