Sepahan secured a narrow 2-0 victory away to Chadormalu in the opening round of the Persian Gulf Pro-League regular season on Thursday. The result keeps the visitors five points clear of the host club in the standings, though both sides have played six matches this term. It was a pragmatic afternoon that did not feature much movement from either side until the final quarter.
Chadormalu started with discipline, taking a yellow card to A. Rezavand in the twenty-second minute before the visitors responded with their own booking at thirty-nine. The breakthrough came late, with E. Hajsafi converting a penalty in the seventy-sixth to give Sepahan the lead. Chadormalu then added to their misery with an own goal from A. Arta on the hour mark, and a second penalty, also taken by Arta, in the ninety-sixth minute sealed the scoreline.
By then the game had settled into its pattern. Sepahan registered one yellow card against no reds, while the home side's official tally showed no cards at all despite the earlier booking. The statistics tell a simple story: the visitors controlled the tempo without needing to dominate possession, and the result reflected that restraint rather than any sudden surge.
The standings now place Sepahan fifth with ten points from three wins, one draw and two defeats. Chadormalu remain fifteenth on five points after one victory, two draws and three losses. Neither position is particularly revealing at this stage, but the gap between them is already established.
What matters for now is that both teams have started the campaign without serious damage. A fourth straight win would have been a statement, but this was about closing the distance on the top half. The rest of the season will decide whether these opening moves mean anything.