3/26/2006
Afshin Afshar, lastkick.com

In the first game of Round 27 of the Iranian Pro League, Saba Battery and Foolad, Iran’s two representatives in the Asian Champions League faced off in Abadan’s Takhti stadium.

The game which was played in front of more than six thousand spectators ended with a 1:0 Saba victory.

Foolad, who were missing their top scorer, Iraqi striker Emad Reza, and two other starters due to injuries and suspension, started the game very strong and missed a number of excellent opportunities in the first half. These misses came back to haunt them midway through the second half when Saba defender Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh broke the tie. That is all Saba needed as they held on for the victory.

Bakhtiarizadeh has scored eight goals this season and is Saba’s second leading scorer trailing striker Ali Daei by one goal.

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