Sepahan edged past struggling Naft Masjed Soleyman thanks to Ezatollah Pourghaz’s 44th minute goal in Isfahan’s Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium.

Sepahan moved up to third place with 46 points, two points behind leader Persepolis.

Another Isfahan-based football team Zob Ahan defeated Sanat Naft 2-1 in Abadan.

Zabir Niknafs (6th minute) and Mohammad Reza Hosseini (76th) were on target for the visiting team and Macoumba Kandji scored for Sanat Naft in the 20th minute.