Sepahan brings home IPL trophy, Pas celebrates runner-up title

IRNA - Both the loser and winner, Sepahan and Pas, were happy Sunday. Sepahan was handed the second Iran Pro League trophy at home and visitor Pas celebrated the runner-up title. 
In a pulsating match in the last (26th) week of the league, Pas that badly needed a win managed to narrowly defeat Sepahan 3-2 in Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium of Isfahan. 
Sepahan's loss deprived Persepolis of the runner-up title. 
Persepolis finished third with 44 points as it beat the eight-man Foulad of Khuzestan 2-0 in Ahvaz Takhti Stadium. The reds hit two in the 78th minute and fourth minute of second half's injury time by Aref Mohammadvand from the penalty spot. 
In Isfahan, visitor Pas took the lead in the 11th minute as Kinaoush Rahmati unleashed a sizzling shot, kissing the right side of Sepahan's net. 
The nimble Mahmoud Karimi leveled the match 16 minutes later when he was well fed in the area by Nasser Farshbaf, dribbled past a Pas defender and slotted home with a low shot past the diving Nima Nakissa. 
Pas celebrated the second three minutes before the interval. Arash Borhani's kick found the net. 
Sepahan was stunned in the 46th minute when Pas striker Mohsen Bayatinia struck the third. 
The league top goalscorer Edmond Bezik of Sepahan minimized the gap in the 61st minute and his teammate Moharram Navidkia missed a golden opportunity on 74 minutes as his penalty kick wrongfooting Pas goalie Nakissa went out after hitting the outer side of the left post. 

Pas players and coaches hugged each other jubilantly in Isfahan and Persepolis camp in Ahvaz was silenced as referee Rahim Rahimi-Moqaddam blew his final whistle in Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium. The league table comes below: 
Team p w d l gf ga pts 
1- Sepahan 26 16 4 6 47 27 52 
2- Pas 26 13 6 7 37 23 45 
3- Persepolis 26 11 11 4 30 21 44 
4- Fajr-e Sepassi 26 11 9 6 28 21 42 
5- Paykan 26 10 7 9 27 24 37 
6- SAIPA 26 9 8 9 29 30 35 
7- Foulad 26 9 7 10 34 36 34 
8- Zob Ahan 26 10 4 12 20 28 34 
9- Esteqlal (Tehran) 26 8 8 10 32 30 32 
10- Barq 26 9 5 12 28 37 32 
11- Esteqlal (Ahvaz) 26 6 10 10 24 30 28 
12- Abu Moslem 26 5 11 10 22 26 26 
13- Malavan 26 6 8 12 25 34 26 
14- San'at Naft 26 6 8 12 17 34 26 
Malavan and San'at Naft were relegated to the first division.