Sepahan take four-point lead

AFC – AFC Champions League 2007 runners-up Sepahan opened up a four-point lead at the top of the 2007/08 Iran Pro League standings following Thursday’s 2-1 win over Esteghlal-Ahvaz.

Mahmoud Karimi, who scored in the first leg of the 2007 ACL final against Urawa Reds, opened the scoring in the 15th minute before Mehdi Seyedsalehi doubled Sepahan’s advantage just eight minutes later.

Davood Haghi pulled a goal back for Esteghlal-Ahvaz with 20 minutes left to play but Sepahan held on for their 14th win of the season, which put them four points ahead of Perspolis after the Reds were held 1-1 by arch-rivals Esteghlal in the Tehran derby.

Sepahan are next in AFC Champions League action on April 9 in a mouth-watering Group A clash that sees them host two-time ACL champions Al Ittihad.