Fajr-Sepahan played out a 1-1 draw with Mes Shahre Babak in the Persian Gulf Pro League on Wednesday. The hosts had led through S. Mehri's goal in the 17th minute before S. Tavakoli's own goal in the 51st brought the visitors level. By then the match had settled into a rhythm neither side could break.
Three substitutions came together at the 49th minute for both sides — A. Moredi, A. Karbalaei and A. Valizadeh for the hosts, with A. Helichi, S. Mehri and M. Tajik for the guests. The visitors then added F. Arab and H. Eftekhari at 74 minutes, while Fajr-Sepahan brought on M. Bahraminejad a few minutes later. And here's the thing, the changes didn't shift the balance.
The hosts kept three clean sheets on the spin before this game, having drawn their opening four matches. Mes Shahre Babak had picked up three points from those same four games — two draws and a defeat. To be fair, neither side looked particularly dangerous in the final third.
Fajr-Sepahan collected three yellow cards themselves — Moredi at 10 minutes, Rigi at 59 and Gerami at 87 — while the visitors showed two: Tavakoli at 69 and Raoufimanesh at 90 minutes. No shots or possession figures were recorded, so the statistics tell us little beyond the cards.
The result leaves Fajr-Sepahan ninth on six points from four games, one win and three draws. Mes Shahre Babak remain 16th on three points from four matches, one defeat and three draws. By then both sides had seen enough of each other to know what to expect.
