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AFC - TEHRAN, AFC Player of the Year nominee Hadi Aghily’s 89th-minute penalty helped Sepahan down 10-man Persepolis 2-1 and retain their top position in the Iran Pro League standings after 17 rounds on Saturday.

Ibrahima Toure’s 27th-minute opener for Sepahan was cancelled out by Sepehr Heidari five minutes after the hour mark but Aghily sealed full points from the spot a minute before the end of regulation time.

Persepolis captain Sheys Rezaei was given his marching orders five minutes after the half hour mark and they were unlucky twice when they failed to convert the penalties. First, Adel Kolahkaj missed the spot kick in the 69th minute and Hadi Norouzi failed to beat Sepahan custodian Mehdi Rahmati in the stoppage time.

Sepahan are on 34 points, one more than Zob Ahan who defeated Malavan 1-0, thanks to a goal from Mohammad Ghazi Najafabadi in the 68th minute.

Defending champions Esteghlal, who are fourth on 27 points, went down 3-2 to Peykan. Saeed Daghighi, Majid Khodabandelo and Hamid Hedayati were on target for Peykan while Amir Hossein Sadeghi and Hossein Kazemi scored for Esteghlal.

In other games, Abu Moslem beat Mes 1-0, Moghavemat downed Rah Ahan 2-1, Steel Azin lost to Esteghlal Ahvaz 1-0, Saipa defeated Saba Battery 2-0, Teraktor drew 2-2 with Pas and Foolad were held goalless by Shahin.

STANDINGS: 1. Sepahan 34, 2. Zob Ahan 33, 3. Peykan 28, 4. Esteghlal 27, 5. Moghavemat 27.