Supersub Mansurian helps Esteqlal hold Saba

MNA – Alireza Mansurian came off the bench to salvage a 1-1 draw for the Iran Pro League holder with Saba Battery in a fifth-week game in Azadi Stadium, west of Tehran, Tuesday night.

The two sides played a boring football in the first half, but their performance considerably improved after the interval.

Saba took the lead nine minutes into the second half with Alireza Abbassirfard heading home an Amir-Hossein Yussefi curling cross.

The striker should have doubled his own and Saba scoring three minutes later, failing to find the net from close range.

Mansurian leveled the match in the 75th minute, pounding home with a sizzling drive.

Substitute Saeid Daqiqi missed a scoring chance for Saba after heading a Yussefi cross in the goalmouth out one minute later and Esteqlal striker Ali Alizadeh’s header dangerously passed the near post one minute from time.

The tie left Esteqlal in the second place. SAIPA is the table-topper.