Categories: Sport

Foolad Claims Iran Professional League Title

Foolad of Ahvaz clinched the title of the Iran Professional League (IPL) on Friday.

Foolad Iran's football team

On the final day of the season, Foolad defeated Gostaresh Foolad of Tabriz 1-0 in Tabriz. Mehrdad Jamaati scored the goal for Foolad in the 37th minute.

Persepolis became runner-up and qualified for the next season’s AFC Champions League along with Foolad. The Iranian giant football team beat Esteghlal Khuzestan 1-0 in its away game. Prodigy Mohammad Abbaszadeh found the back of the net from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute.

Meanwhile, Naft lost to Sepahan and finished in third place. Mehdi Sharifi was on target in the 53rd minute. Naft will go to playoffs to book a place in the AFC Champions League. Sepahan finished in fourth place.

IPL holder Esteghlal lost to Tractor Sazi 3-1 at the Azadi Stadium and came fifth.

Farshad Ahmadzadeh opened the scoring in the 31st minute but Esteghlal defender Hanif Omranzadeh cancelled out his goal in the 43rd minute.

Afterwards, Mohammad Nosrati gave a lead the visiting team with a long-range shot in the 52nd minute. Tractor Sazi striker Karim Ansarifard scored from the penalty spot in the 72nd minute and became the best scorer of the season with 14 goals.

Damash was relegated from IPL after a 1-1 draw against Mes, which had been relegated last week.

Saba and Saipa drew 0-0, Rah Ahan lost to Zob Ahan 1-0 in home, and Fajr Sepasi defeated Malavan 2-1 and went to IPL playoffs.

Foold won the IPL title for the second time. The Ahvaz-based team had once won the title in 2004-05 Season.

Emad Askarieh

Emad Askarieh has worked as a journalist since 2002. The main focus of his work is foreign policy and world diplomacy. He started his career at Iran Front Page Media Group, and is currently serving as the World Editor and the Vice-President for Executive Affairs at the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website.