A scene of the match between Esteqlal and Foulad held in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz on May 5, 2013.[/caption]Esteqlal has won the championship of Iran's Premier League (IPL) for the third time after beating Foulad one week before the end of the tournament.
The Blues blanked host Foulad 1-0 in a match in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz on Sunday.
Javad Nekounam scored Esteqlals solo on a penalty kick in the 19th minute. In the 30th minute, Foulad also managed to grab a penalty on goalkeeper Seyyed Mehdi Rahmatis foul, but midfielder Mehdi Nouri failed to score the equalizer and shot the ball over the bar.
In other IPL matches of the day, Zob Ahan pummeled Naft Abadan 6-0, Teraktorsazi edged past Aluminum 2-1, Mes hammered Gahar 5-1, Fajr Sepasi beat Peikan 2-1, Naft Tehran blanked Saipa 1-0, and Rah Ahan drew with Saba 1-1.
Esteqlal has gained 67 points to become the IPL champion and will take on Damash in its last match on Friday. Sepahan with 63 points and Teraktorsazi with 62 follow Esteqlal in the second and third spot of the IPL table.
Also on Sunday, in the final encounter of Irans Hazfi (knockout) Cup, held at Azadi stadium in Tehran, Sepahan beat host Persepolis to win the title.
Karim Ansarifard scored the opener for Persepolis for the first half to finish 1-0 for the Reds.
In the second half, Sepahan striker Xhevahir Sukaj scored the equalizer on the hour mark and the match came to a 1-1- draw in regular time.
Mohammad Nouri put Persepolis ahead again in the 99th minute but Mohammad Gholami scored for Sepahan in the 106th minute.
In the penalty shootout Sepahan managed to beat the Reds and the game finished 6-4. Sepahan won Irans Hazfi Cup title for the fourth time.
The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition was not regarded as important by clubs until the Iranian Football Federation decided to award one of Iran's Asian Football Confederation Champions League spots to the Hazfi Cup champion.
By Press TV
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