Tehran’s Persepolis saw off promoted Pegah 2-0 in the second week of the 7th Iran Pro League in Azadi Stadium on Friday.
A faux pas from the visiting northerners’ keeper Sasha Ilich helped new signing Abbas Aqaei take the lead for the red-shirted Persepolis with a curling 40-yard set-piece on 18 minutes.
Over 50,000 boisterous fans went wild with applause four minutes later when striker Alireza Vahedi-Nikbakht cleared three markers before his through-ball was sent in by Ehsan Khorsandi whose powerful drive took a deflection off Ilich’s hands.
Nikbakht almost hit the third three minutes after the interval, rattling the crossbar with a header.
Substitute Farhad Kheirkhah raced to a defense-splitting pass from Persepolis skipper Shays Rezaei on 77 minutes, but he failed to beat the advancing goalie.
The victory sent the Reds to the top of the 18-strong table on six points and goal difference, followed by Isfahan’s Sepahan that celebrated a 2-1 away victory over Abu Moslem.
In other Friday’s games, Pas overcame Shirin Faraz 1-0, Barq defeated Rah Ahan 1-0, the Ahvaz-based Esteqlal and promoted San’at Naft struggled to a scoreless draw, and Moqavemat-e Sepasi beat holder Saipa 2-1.
In Thursday’s matches, Malavan stunned visitor Esteqlal of the capital 2-1, celebrating the winner in stoppage time, and Saba Battery and Paykan split the points with a 1-1 tie.
Malavan Anzali recorded its first win of the season after a Round 2 encounter with Tehran giants Esteghlal. A yawner and goalless first half gave way to a more lively and attacking football in the second 45 minute. Malavan had to wait until the 71st minute when Tamini’s header sailed past Esteqlal international goalkeeper Taleblou. Esteqlal made an immediate come back. Esteqlal’s captain Navazi, who had two assists last week against Esteqlal Ahvaz, was the provider again by feeding a long cross which Qorbani turned into Blue’s equalizer. However, Malavan would have the last laugh, when substitute Tahmasebi’s shot gave the host a 2-1 advantage with only a minute left on the added time.
With one win and a loss, Esteqlal are now on three points. Malavan, which drew 0-0 against Zob Ahan last week are on four points.
In Tehran, Saba Battery and Paykan played to a 1-1 draw. Hajizadeh was on target for Saba, with Khangoli equalizing for Paykan. Both sides had won their respective matches in Round 1.

Wednesday Aug. 29

Fajr-e Sepasi - Barq (5 p.m.)
Paykan - Sepahan (5 p.m.)
Abu Moslem - Persepolis (4:15 p.m.)


Friday Aug. 31
Pegah Ð Sanat-e Naft (5 p.m.)
Zob-e Ahan Ð Shirin Faraz (5 p.m.)
Rah Ahan Ð Saba Battery (5 p.m.)
Esteqlal-e Ahvaz Ð Malavan (7 p.m.)
Pas-e Hamedan Ð Saipa (5 p.m.)
Esteqlal Ð Mes-e Kerman (7 p.m.)

Drivers compete in a Karting race at the 4th Iran Championship in TehranÕs Azadi Stadium on Friday.

Luca Toni

BERLIN, Aug. 25--The arrival of World Cup stars Franck Ribery, Miroslav Klose and Luca Toni has started to pay off for Bayern Munich as the club revealed on Thursday they are enjoying a sales boom.
Bayern spent 69 million euros over the summer to bolster their squad with big names like French midfielder Ribery, Italian World Cup winner Toni and Klose, the top scorer at the 2006 World Cup, arriving in Munich, AFP reported.
And the 20-times German champions are reaping the rewards both on the field--Bayern are top of the Bundesliga after two games--and off it with one of the biggest booms in their 107-year history.
“Our merchandising turnover has soared, there’s unbelievable momentum here at the moment,“ said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
Crowds of up to 6,000 are turning up to open training sessions and merchandising sales increased by 91 percent in July compared to the same month the previous year.
When Bayern entertained Barcelona in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup earlier this month, the club sold a quarter of a million euros of merchandise at the Allianz Arena on one day, double the usual amount on a busy match day.
But while the most in-demand item in the club shop is the new home replica shirt--with either the name Toni, Ribery or Klose across the back - ticket sales are also soaring.
The demand for tickets are at an all-time high and the club has sold all 2,000 of its business seats even though they are only in the UEFA Cup and not the more prestigious Champions League this year.
“The boom extends to the entire club,“ said Bayern general manager Uli Hoeness.
“We’ve sold all our business seats, something we didn’t achieve last season even when we were in the Champions League.“
And the “sold-out“ signs may soon be seen appearing outside the Allianz Arena for home Bundesliga games.
“We are experiencing our biggest boom ever,“ said Bayern’s Head of Ticketing Manfred Angermeyer.
“We’ll soon be putting up the sold out signs on every game until Christmas, earlier than ever before.“

Iranian player (l) scores past Iraqi rival during their basketball match in Tehran on Wednesday.

Junior basketball team has romped to a 117-52 victory against Yemen topping the West Asian Youth Basketball tournament in Tehran.
In a strong performance, the Iranian team won its five matches in the event.
In other matches, Lebanon defeated Jordan 66-65.
Iran earlier beat Iraq 99-56, Jordan 118-80 and Syria 83-58.

Female athlete Aytak Me’marzadeh wins a silver medal in the third weight category of the 4th Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships.
In the Bantamweight category (Over 51kg and not exceeding 55kg), after beating the Taiwanese and Australian opponents, Me’marzadeh yielded to her Thai competitor 7-8 in the final round and stood at the second place.
Me’marzadeh’s silver medal marks Iran’s first medal ever in the women Taekwondo competitions.
The fourth Asian Junior Taekwondo Championships, which started on August 22, is being held in Amman, Jordan.

Iran has climbed two spots to stand 44th in the latest FIFA rankings despite the national team’s early exit in the Asian Cup quarterfinals.
The star-studded team lost on penalties to South Korea.
Japan ranks first in Asia followed by Iran. Asia’s big surprise and champions Iraq jumped 16 rungs to take the 64th spot. Iraqis are in the seventh slot in Asia.
Brazil retains top place, followed by Argentina and Italy. Five-time world champion Brazil has 1,508 points, Argentina 1,491 and Italy 1,430.

Hossein KaÕbi is a shining star in national football team in recent years.

Hossein Ka’bi who recently signed with Football League Championship outfits Leicester City FC, was waiting for the Transfer Card (ITC) to be issued by his former club Persepolis of Tehran before he could get playing time at his new club.
The Persepolis club manager, Kashani issued Ka’bi’s transfer card this morning for him to officially play for Leicester city now.
Hossein Ka’bi who has been a shining star for Iran’s football national team in recent years has already played for Iran in the world cup and is expected to do well in England due to his wonderful speed and agility.