Sepahan increase lead

AFC- AFC Champions League Group A strugglers Sepahan increased their lead in the Iran Pro League standings with a 3-2 victory over Shirin-Faraz in the 29th round here on Sunday.

The AFC Champions League 2007 runners-up are on 53 points, six more than second-placed Saba Battery, with five more rounds to follow.

Emad Mohamed Redha, who scored the only goal in Sepahan’s victory over Saudi Arabian giants Al Ittihad in the AFC Champions League last week, scored a brace for Jorvan Viera’s side in the 66th and 68th minutes after Hojat Zadmahmoud opened their account in the fourth minute. Bagher Zaferani was on target for Shirin-Faraz in the 52nd and 85th minutes.

Sepahan are placed second in AFC Champions League Group A with six points, three less than leaders Uzbekistan’s Kuruvchi, and will take on Syria’s Al Ittihad in their penultimate group game on May 7.