Thu Feb 27 15:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Tehran Derby and Tractor-Sepahan Match Heat Up Iran’s Persian Gulf Pro League
**Tehran, Iran** – The Iranian Persian Gulf Pro League witnessed a fiery weekend with two highly anticipated matches. The Tehran derby between Persepolis and Esteghlal, and the clash between Tractor and Sepahan, delivered drama both on and off the field.
Persepolis secured a crucial victory in the derby, defeating their rivals Esteghlal. Ali Aliipour scored his fifth derby goal, bringing him closer to breaking Iranpak’s decades-old record of 7 goals in the fixture. The win puts Persepolis back in contention for the league title. Controversy surrounded a penalty appeal for Persepolis, with differing opinions from experts on whether a penalty should have been awarded. Post-match, there were heartwarming scenes of sportsmanship between Persepolis’ Soroush Rafiei and Esteghlal’s Saleh Hardani. Esteghlal players Morteza Pouraliganji and Rouzbeh Chesmi received yellow cards, ruling them out of their next game.
The Tractor-Sepahan match ended in a draw, with Tractor coach Dragan Skocic criticizing the VAR system and suggesting a penalty should have been awarded to his team. He also questioned a decision involving Esteghlal player Kaveh Rezaei.
The Persepolis victory was celebrated widely, and a video released by the club highlighted the red-clad celebrations at Azadi Stadium. However, a post-match image analysis sparked debate about a potential offside in Persepolis’ goal. The image was described as an “unbelievable” offside by commentators.
Both matches generated significant discussion amongst fans and analysts, leaving a lasting mark on the Iranian football landscape. The outcome of the derby significantly impacts the league standings, re-igniting the title race with nine matches remaining.
First Piper 