 In the same season Pious returned to his former club Persepolis.He had his worst season at Persepolis, only scoring 5 times in 12 games in the newly established Qods League, despite his scoring issues Pious still helped Persepolis to the final of the league where they lost to rivals Esteghlal 2-1 in one of the most important Tehran derby's.In 1990 there was no league in Iran and this allowed Pious and Persepolis to focus on the Asian Cup Winners' Cup he scored 7 times in 4 games in the competition and helped Persepolis claim their first ever continental title with a 1-0 win in the final over Muharraq.