TEHRAN, Dec. 30 (Mehr News Agency) -- Persepolis missed a good chance to get close to the Iran Professional League (IPL) leader Esteghlal in the 20th week after being badly beaten by Malavan Bandar Anzali on Tuesday.

Persepolis lost 2-0 to Malavan in Tehran's Azadi Stadium in front of approximately 30,000 spectators.

Alireza Ramezani put Malavan in the lead in the 70th minute with a shot into the hosts' box which Alireza Haghighi Persepolis' keeper failed to catch.

Persepolis dominated the match afterwards but their strikers squandered all the opportunities.

Malavan's Mohammad Heydari poured cold water on Persepolis' hopes, scoring a second ball across the goal line.

Persepolis stays in third place with 33 points as Malavan goes to the middle of the table, bagging 24 points.

... Payvand News - 12/30/08 ... --