Tehran – Last season’s top scorer of the Iranian Pro League – Mehdi Taremi – continues his excellent form to give Persepolis a 1-0 win over visitors Sanat Naft Abadan on 28 October.
Sanat Naft keeper Hassan Houri was constantly under pressure in the first half as Persepolis dominated but failed to find the back of the net.
Taremi should have put Persepolis in front four minutes into the second half when he had a free header in the six-yard box go wide. Goalkeeper Houri was noticeably irate with the marking being done by his defenders.
The pressure continued minutes later when Taremi had another header in the penalty area but this time Houri made a fine save to keep the match scoreless.
On the other side of field Sanat Naft rarely threatened the Persepolis goal except for a long range shot from Mohammad Shadkam that went wide.
The Persepolis fans were waiting for their moment to erupt in joy and they finally got it in the 85th minute when a cross from Ramin Rezaeian on the right was volleyed by the left foot of Taremi that bounced off the face of Houri and went into the net to give Persepolis a much needed 1-0 lead.
The win for Persepolis keeps them top of the IPL table with twenty-two points, two ahead of Tractor Sazi.
Croatian keeper Bozidar Radosevic started for Persepolis in place of injured number one keeper Alireza Beiranvand.