Farad Alborz and Shenavarsazi Keshm played out a 0-0 draw in the Azadegan League's third round on Sunday. The match finished without a goal, extending both sides' unbeaten starts to the campaign. And here's the thing — it wasn't the outcome I'd backed, having given a 43 per cent confidence rating for a home win.
Neither side managed to break the deadlock despite periods of pressure. By then, the game had settled into a cautious rhythm, both teams content to avoid mistakes more than seek advantage. The away end never stopped, but it was a noise that didn't translate into clear chances.
Alborz move up to second with five points from three matches, sitting on one win and two draws. They've shown they can pick up results — that 1-0 victory over Nirui Zamini last weekend — but consistency remains the question. To be fair, they've also had to dig in away from home, losing narrowly to Nassaji Mazandaran before bouncing back.
Keshm's pattern is more unusual — three draws from three games, still unbeaten but without a victory. They've seen both ends of the spectrum, drawing 2-2 with Novin Ahvaz and 0-0 with Pars Jonoubi, while also securing that 3-0 triumph over Havaridar. Three consecutive matches without a loss, but also three without a win.
The result keeps both sides in contention for early positions, though the gap between second and sixth is only two points. It's a draw that suits neither side's ambitions fully, but at least neither has started the season with a defeat.
