Title: Persepolis Held to Another Home Draw as League Campaign Faces Early Test
In a result that will raise questions about their title credentials, Tehran giants Persepolis were held to a 1-1 draw by Foolad FC in their latest Iran Pro League fixture at the Shahre Qods Stadium.
The match began brightly for the home side, with star striker Ali Alipour opening the scoring in the first half with a spectacular strike, sending the passionate home support into raptures. However, Foolad mounted a resilient comeback after the break. A well-placed cross from Abolfazl Razaghpour found Mohammadreza Soleimani, whose powerful header leveled the scoreline.
Despite intense offensive pressure from Persepolis in the dying minutes of the game, they were unable to break down a determined Foolad defense, forcing the Reds to settle for a single point.
This marks the second consecutive home draw for Persepolis in the early stages of the 25th league season, having also been held 1-1 by Fajr Sepasi in their opening week. The team, under the management of Vahid Hashemian, has now collected five points from its first three matches.
Analysts point to several factors influencing this start, including adapting to the playing surface and conditions at the Shahre Qods Stadium, a different capacity environment from their familiar Azadi Stadium. The team is widely expected to use these initial results as a foundation to build momentum as they seek to challenge for the championship.