Match Report
On paper the standings were lopsided — Foolad 8th with 40 points, Naft Masjed Soleyman 16th with 20, 20 apart. Naft Masjed Soleyman's recent output outran their position: 6th on form over five rounds, 16th in the table. Against a league average of 1 goals per team per game, Foolad ran at 0.9 scored and 0.87 conceded, Naft Masjed Soleyman at 0.73 and 1.97.
From the last five rounds, Foolad held 10 points of 15 and Naft Masjed Soleyman 4.
5 meetings are on record — 3 won by Foolad, 1 by Naft Masjed Soleyman, 1 drawn, at 1.8 goals per meeting. These meetings skew tight — only 20% saw more than two goals.
Shohadaye Foolad Khoozestan (Ahvaz) in Ahvaz staged the fixture, a ground that holds 30,655. H. Ziari officiated: 18 games logged, averaging 0.8 yellow cards each. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 1-0.