Jaber Ansari headed Esteghlal of Tehran into a lead that lasted till the last second of the event when the Honduran forward of Persepolis Jerry Bengtson equalized the 81st derby of Tehran on Friday.
Esteghlal of Tehran and Persepolis of the city lined up against each other to inaugurate the 11th round of Iran’s Pro League of Soccer AKA Persian Gulf Premier League of Football at 3:00 pm local time at Azadi Stadium in Tehran.
While the two teams left the pitch scoreless at the end of the first half, the blues scored the opener at the 49th minute, a superiority they preserved till the last moment of the match when the reds equalized.
The first red-blue derby of Tehran was held on April 5, 1968 at Shahid Shiroudi Stadium of Tehran and ended 0-0.
All the 7 remaining fixtures of the 11th round will be held on Saturday when Siah Jamegan of Mashhad line up against Saipa at 03:00 pm local time simultaneously with the match of their fellow-Mashhadis in Tabriz where Gostaresh Foulad of the city host Padideh of Mashhad.
Half an hour later, at 03:30 pm four other events of the day will kick off in which Malavan of Anzali host Foulad of Khuzestan in Iranian northern port of Anzali, Naft of Tehran play versus Esteghlal of Khuzestan, Zowbahan line up against Rahahan, and Saba of Qom will play with Tractorsazi of Tabriz.
The last match of Saturday will kick off at 04:50 pm in Ahvaz where Esteghlal of the city will face the golden giants of Isfahan.
YNG /2953576