fc-esi 1 - 1 Esteghlal (373736220)

62401 spectators arrived at TORANJ park, where weather conditions were pretty good for football. Henning Kaltoft was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Teemu Takku and Ubaldo Matildo Soto. fc-esi started off with a 3-5-2 lineup. Starters: Hui Jun - Radeck, Carreiro, Arcento - Lepore, Bəxtiyarlı, Karlsson, Paulsson, Müller - Lyhne, Fivaller.

A 3-5-2 alignment was the formation of choice for Esteghlal. The following players had been chosen: Shafagh - Galiza, Tonietti, Gubán - Ciobanu, Aarnio, Rovolas, Hindle, Ermutlu - De Lobelle, Gesmundo.

Esteghlal demonstrated their creative tactics on the field. Esteghlal's I. Gesmundo managed to lose the defenders as he advanced down the right wing and scored, putting the visitors ahead after 26 minutes. 0 - 1. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 37 minutes, fc-esi tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. With 39 minutes played, after a good run down the left, E. Paulsson went down looking for a penalty after a challenge from the visitors' right fullback, but the referee waved play on, and later warned him for diving. 0 - 1 was the score after the first half. fc-esi enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 60 percent of possession.

R. Müller was ever so close to scoring after an excellent corner was beautifully flicked on by F. Arcento, but the ball bounced off the post to safety. Some fine passing in the middle of the pitch, carving open the away defence, should have led to a goal for fc-esi, but J. Lyhne's shot went over the bar. fc-esi equalised after 69 minutes after a brilliantly placed penalty by T. Radeck. fc-esi had most of the ball, with 61 percent of possession.

fc-esi's best player was R. Bəxtiyarlı. On the other hand, R. Müller's play was disheartening. Most important Esteghlal player was E. Shafagh. T. Ciobanu turned in a dismal performance, however. The match ends 1 - 1.