Persian Gulf Pro League:
Urunov on target as Persepolis edges Paykan
Persepolis celebrated a third win in four games in the Persian Gulf Pro League since Brazilian Osmar Viera’s appointment as the head coach, defeating Paykan 1-0 in Tehran on Tuesday.
Uzbekistan international midfielder Oston Urunov found the net with a delicate lob deep into first-half stoppage time to make the difference between the two sides at an empty Pas Qavamin Stadium.
The victory saw the Capital Reds move atop the table with 22 points – one clear of Sepahan and two above archrival Esteghlal, though the chasing pack have two games in hand.
Saeid Daqiqi’s Paykan remained 11th in the 16-team table with 14 points.
Elsewhere, defending champion Tractor was held to a second successive goalless draw in the Iranian top-flight, sharing the points with Qassem Haddadifar’s Zob Ahan in Isfahan’s Fooladshahr Stadium.
The result left Tractor, which has managed only one win in five league outings, lagging in the fifth place with 18 points, with Zob Ahan 12th on 13 points.
In Abadan, Ali Azadmanesh scored from the spot in the second minute of added time in the first half to lead Khaybar to a 1-0 away victory over Esteghlal Khuzestan.
The win propelled Khaybar to fourth in the table with 19 points, while Esteghlal Khuzestan is 13th with 13 points.
Struggling Shams Azar Qazvin played to a 1-1 draw against Golgohar Sirjan at home.
Reza Asadi gave Golgohar the lead in 63rd minute, only to see his goal cancelled out by Soheil Fadakar three minutes, as Shams Azar snatched a point despite playing with 10 men following a straight red card for Dariush Shojaeian in the 37th minute.
Shams Azar remained second from bottom in the standings with 11 points, with Mahdi Tartar’s Golgohar sitting eighth on 17 points.