Red-men edge Saipa 1-0

PTV - Tehran's red-clad men edge out Saipa 1-0 to move closer to the top of the table on Saturday at the end of the premier league season.

The Red-men picked up three points, just six minutes into the end of the match, thanks to a late self-goal by Saipa's keeper Misaq Me'marzadeh

Persepolis' veterans Hussein Ka'abi and Karim Baqeri were in the line-up but Ali-Reza Nikbakht Vahedi, Pejman Nouri and Abbas Aqai were off the list to surprise Saipa in a match played before 60,000 fans at the Azadi football pitch in Western Tehran.

The match was even in the first half. The Red-men appeared more aggressive in the second half, relying on the agile left winger Hussein Ka'abi's attacks, but the Red-men's strikers lost several goal chances.

Ali Daei's Saipa side failed to take lead from the Red-men despite his efforts to shock Persepolis through counterattacks.

Saipa's hope for a single score was dashed when a 59th minute shootout was saved by the goalpost.

Daei left the pitch frustrated, blaming the referee for the use of his whistle.