Persepolis see off Saipa in IPL opener

MNA - Persepolis started 8th edition of the Iranian Premier League (IPL) with a convincing victory against Saipa in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Monday.
Defending champions defeated the newly-appointed Pierre Littbarski’s team 1-0 in front of about 50,000 raucous spectators.

Before Pejman Nouri’s long-range goal in the 43rd minute, Persepolis strikers created some chances but failed to score each time.

In the 30th minute, captain Karim Bagheri chested the ball down behind Saipa’s box and hit a shot out of Mirzapour’s goal.

In the beginning of the second half Bagheri earned two more opportunities but failed to score each time.

Bagheri, who was declared the best player of the last season, also could not score at the end of the match.

First, he sent the ball out of an empty net, and shortly after that, his long shot landed on the net.

Just before Hedayat Mombeini blew the final whistle Javad Ashtiani of Saipa could have evened the score but his shot narrowly scraped past the post.

Tuesday IPL matches:


* Pas of Hamedan – Sepahan of Isfahan

* Payam of Khorasan – Bargh of Shiraz

* Malavan of Bandar Anzali – Rah Ahan of Tehran

* Zob Ahan of Isfahan – Mes of Kerman

* Moghavemat Sepasi – Foulad of Khuzestan

* Saba Battery of Ghom – Peykan

* Esteghlal Ahvaz – Pagah of Gilan

* Esteghlal Tehran – Abumoslem Khorasan