Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Ario Eslamshahr 5th with 58 points, Naft Masjed Soleyman 16th with 33, 25 apart. Naft Masjed Soleyman's recent output outran their position: 1st on form over five rounds, 16th in the table. Per game in the league, Ario Eslamshahr were scoring 0.97 and conceding 0.53, Naft Masjed Soleyman 0.85 and 1.06, against a competition average of 0.88 goals per team per game.
Defeat had not touched Ario Eslamshahr in 12 games. Naft Masjed Soleyman were winless in 5. From the last five rounds, Ario Eslamshahr held 9 points of 15 and Naft Masjed Soleyman 3.
The venue was Imam Khomeini Stadium in Eslamshahr, with room for 8,000 spectators. It was 1-1 at the break, and the second half added 2 goals for the 3-1 full-time score.