Saipa see off Shirin Faraz

AFC – AFC Champions League Group B leaders Saipa were made to work for their win over Shirin Faraz on Thursday as Ali Daei’s side defeated the 2007/08 Iran Pro League’s basement dwellers 4-2.

Saipa midfielder Omid Sharifinasab opened the scoring in the 24th minute before Roozbeh Shahalidoost gave the hosts a two-goal cushion going into the break with the second 15 minutes later.

Pooya Seifpanahi reduced the deficit ten minutes into the second-half and while Amir Vaziri made it 3-1 to Saipa 12 minutes later a 75th minute strike from Mohamed Mohamadi ensured it was a nervous finish for the Iranian champions.

Ibrahim Ashstani ended Shirin’s hopes of taking something from the game when he netted Saipa’s fourth three minutes in to stoppage-time although the match will have given Daei plenty to think about ahead of Wednesday’s AFC Champions League meeting with Al Quwa Al Jawiya.