TEHRAN (Iran News) – The Islamic Republic of Iran’s long, unique 2019-20 football season has one match remaining, with Esteghlal and Tractor to meet in the Hazfi Cup Final on Thursday.
The teams secured their respective places in the decider with wins in last week’s semi-finals. Tractor beat Naft Masjed Soleyman 1-0, but it was Esteghlal’s success over Persepolis in the other semi-final which captured much of the attention.
The Tehran sides played out a superb, see-sawing battle at an empty Azadi Stadium, with Esteghlal equalizing at 2-2 in injury time, before emerging from a nerve-shredding penalty shootout as the winner.
Esteghlal finished second in the recently completed Iran Pro League, three points ahead of fourth-placed Tractor, who is chasing just its second Hazfi Cup title, with its previous win coming in 2014, the-afc.com reported.
Its opponent, on the other hand, is the competition’s most successful team. Esteghlal has lifted the Cup on seven occasions, including five times since 2000.
- source : Tasnim, Iran News
