Despite their hopes supporters of Esteghlal witnessed the loss of their team to archrival Perspolis. That neither team will win the Iranian Premier League's cup is a foregone conclusion since Sepahan seems to have clinched the title already. What the two bitter rivals were fighting for was their dignity. For over a half century, regardless of all other turmoil in the country, the matches between Taj and Perspolis or now, Esteglal and Perspolis have been the focal point of sports life in Iran.
100,000 spectators, hot with the anticipation expected Esteghalal that had lost the last match between the two teams to put up a fight, but in the 10th. Minute, Pejman Jamshidi,
silenced Esteglal fans with his angled shot which found the back of Esteglal's net to the bewilderment of their goalie Hadi Tabatabaei.
Less than a minute later, Karim Bagheri's corner found an eager Yahya Golmohammadi who almost ushered the ball to the blue team's goal once again.
Esteqlal lost two golden chances. Esteghlal striker Ahmad Mo'menzadeh missed two one-on-one opportunities against Farshid Karimi, Perspolis's keeper.
Esteqlal's lost a player to a red card when in the 45th minute Farzad Majidi was ejected for ,owing down Hamid Estili.
In the 50th. Minute Forward Behnam Abulqasempour tapped in the ball to an empty after goalie Tabatabaei failed to deflect a loose ball.
AliReza Akbarpour of Esteghlal escaped from an offside trap and left Karimi who was marking him, and placed the ball into an empty net in the 63rd minute.
Esteghlal's nightmare continued when in the 85th. Minute Ali Samareh was ejected for a hard foul on Hamid Estili.