🔸The blue-and-red derby of the capital’s teams, held in Isfahan instead of Tehran on Wednesday, ended in a 1-1 draw. However, tens of thousands of spectators who had gone to Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium in Isfahan, and millions of television viewers of this match, enjoyed an exciting encounter.

Contrary to the usual routine in which the two teams enter the field cautiously and out of fear of losing, the Wednesday derby was played with multiple attacks on the two teams’ goals, and away from the usual distractions.

The first goal was scored by Mohammad Mehdi Mohbi for Persepolis in the early part of the second half, but Esteghlal soon equalized with multiple attacks and, ultimately, with the brilliance of its star player, Yaser Amani.

With this draw, Esteghlal reached 11 points and moved up to second place, standing after Tractor, which has 13 points. Persepolis, too, remained fourth after earning its tenth point following Aluminij Arak, but with an attacking, forward-facing style of play, it gave its fans hope for better results in the continuation of the league.

A noteworthy point of this match was the presence of more than 30,000 spectators at Naqsh-e Jahan Stadium in Isfahan, only a few hours after new U.S. air attacks on about 40 locations in southern Iran, in which 18 people were killed and about 100 others were injured.

📷IRNA