February 28, 2020
Crosstown rival soccer teams Esteghlal and Persepolis played to yet another tie in their latest semiannual matchup. The final score was 2-2.
Esteghlal scored first as Arsalan Motahari, who only joined the team in January, made both of his team’s goals in the 24th and 52nd minutes.
Persepolis’s Ali Alipour kicked in one goal at the 29th minute, but Persepolis was trailing 2-1 as the match was wrapping up. Then, in the closing seconds, Bashar Resan, an Iraqi midfielder with Persepolis, booted in the tying goal.
The Tehran cross-town rivalry, which not uncommonly sees some violence in the stadium, but not this time, dates back to 1968. The winner after 92 matches is the draw. Esteghlal has won 26 matches to 25 for Persepolis. But draws prevail at 41.
However, over the last five years, Persepolis has been catching up, winning seven games to just two for Esteghlal and four draws.
In the Persian Gulf Pro League, now just passed the halfway mark, Persepolis sits atop the standings with 41 points while Esteghlal is in third place with 33 points.