Match Report
In the standings it was Persepolis 1st on 13 points, Kashima Antlers 2nd on 9 — separated by 4. Kashima Antlers ranked just 11th in the league on five-round form despite their 2nd table position. Scoring rates set the scale: Persepolis 1.33 scored and 0.5 conceded per game, Kashima Antlers 1.33 and 1, with the league averaging 1.41.
Momentum sat with Persepolis, winners of their last three. Kashima Antlers had not lost in 11 games.
The venue was Azadi Stadium in Teheran, with room for 20,000 spectators. On the scoreboard, it was 0-0 at the break, and no goals arrived after the restart: 0-0 the final score.