Soccer Memories-Part 45, The most memorable Tehran Derby, Shahrivar 16, 1352 (September 6, 1973), Persepolis 6-Taj 0

Most Football fans or Football Historians may not be familiar with the history of Football in Iran or its origins. Nevertheless, most will have a knowledge about the great rivalry between the Tehran Giants Persepolis (in Red Colors) and Esteghlal (formerly Taj) (in Blue colors).

Such is the passion and the history in this match-up that it ranks as one of the greatest Football rivalries in the World of Football.

The analysis of this rivalry deserves a separate discussion as there are naturally social and historical reasons as well as sporting reasons why this clash between these two clubs has reached such heights.

Instead, let’s look at the most memorable match between these two sides with a scoreline that reverberates to this day. Despite the great successes of either side in the succeeding decades. It was a match that is a source of pride for one side and humiliation for the other.

It was a time when Esteghlal was called Taj and the Iranian Championship was called the ‘Takht Jamshid Cup’.

The sides had first met in a friendly in 1968 (scoreless tie) and in the early going Taj seemed to have the upper hand in the derbies. It was at the start of the ‘Takht Jamshid Cup’ that Persepolis would have its greatest era.

This was the name of the new National Iranian League Championship, and this memorable match took place in the first season of this newly named League.

This was the 11^th meeting between the sides*. It took place on Persian calendar day Shahrivar 16, 1352 (September 6, 1973)**, at Tehran’s Aryamehr Stadium (now Azadi Stadium).

Persepolis had some of the greatest stars of Iranian Football of the 1970s. These included Ali Parvin, Jafar Kashani, Hossein Kalani and Captain Homayoun Behzadi.

 

Photo From: Donyayeh Varzesh (Photo bought by me in the 80s from a shop)

(Top, first on the right: Garo Haghverdian, Bottom, left to right: Homayoun Behzadi, Ali Parvin, Ali Jabari)

Photo From: Keyhan Varzeshi (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Persepolis’ Ali Parvin)

Photo From: Magazine source unknow (most likely Keyhan Varzeshi or Donyaye Varseh) (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Persepolis’ Jafar Ksshani)

Taj were equally strong with stars of their own such as Captain Ali Jabari, Hassan Rowshan, Gholamhossein Mazloumi and goalkeeper Nasser Hejazi (who would appear later in the match).

 

Many would have predicted a tight affair, given the qualities of the respective sides present. Those present that day saw a match that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

According to the book ‘Tarikhchey-eh Didarhay-eh Perspolis- Esteghlal. 1362 (1983)’, this was a day that every Persepolis ball hit the target. Everything went Persepolis’ way on that day that even they couldn’t believe in the end.

 

Photo From: Magazine source unknow (most likely Keyhan Varzeshi or Donyaye Varseh) (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Taj’s Nasser Hejazi)

Photo From: World Cup 78, by Phil Soar

(Taj’s Hassan Rowshan)

Hossein Kalani opened the scoring in the 32^nd minute through Ashtinai’s pass.

Taj attempted to get back into the match but that was short lived and just before halftime Iraj Soleimani scored the second goal with a ground level shot. This more or less settled the match.

Persepolis started the second half in a confident mood. Just five minutes after the kick-off, Behzadi struck Persepolis’ third.

In the 57^th minute, Iraj Soleimani scored the fourth with a long-range shot.

After this Taj made a series of substitutions, Hejazi came in goal to replace Rashidi and Naraghi and Mojdehi entered to add some spark.

Taj started attacking to limit the damage and salvage some pride, but it was to no avail.

Taj pressd forward but the confident Persepolis rearguard was equal to the task.

In the closing minutes, Behzadi struck twice more for a final unbelievable scoreline (6-0).

 

Photo From: Tarikhchey-eh Didarhay-eh Perspolis- Esteghlal. 1362 (1983)

Photo From: Tarikhchey-eh Didarhay-eh Perspolis- Esteghlal. 1362 (1983)

Photo From: Tarikhchey-eh Didarhay-eh Perspolis- Esteghlal. 1362 (1983)

Photo From: Keyhan Varzeshi (Provided by a blog viewer)

(This photo has been referenced online as showing Homayoun Behzadi scoring in this famous match, but needs to be confirmed)

The return leg of this match-up, the match ended as a (1-1) tie

At the end of the season, Persepolis were the Champions of the inaugural ‘Takht Jamshid Cup’, just head of Taj by just two points. Essentially, this result was the difference between the sides in the League race.

Persepolis ended undefeated this season and Taj’s only loss was in this match.

It was one of those results that comes once in a lifetime for various circumstances. Neither team was as good or as bad as the score indicated.

The sides’ rivalry would grow in the succeeding decades into present day. However, this match will always remain as the most memorable of all.

 

 

Notes:

*Online sources show this may have been the 13^th meeting, but in the book ‘Tarikhchey-eh Didarhay-eh Perspolis- Esteghlal. 1362 (1983), it is referred as the 11^th match.

** Some online sources, show the date as September 7^th, 1973.

 

 

 

Date: Friday Shahrivar 16, 1352 (September 6, 1973)

Competition: Takht Jamshid Cup 1973/74

Result: Persepolis 6-Taj 0

Venue: Aryamehr Stadium (now Azadi Stadium)

Attendance: 40,000

Referee: Nicolae Petricianu (Romania)

Linesmen: Akbar Hagh-Bin, Mahmoud Khosh-Khan

Kick-off time: -

Goalscorers:

(Persepolis): Hossein Kalani 32, Iraj Soleimani 45, 57, Homayoun Behzadi 50, 87, 90

(Taj): None

Summary of goals:

1:0 (32^nd minute, Persepolis): -

2:0 (45^th minute, Persepolis): -

3:0 (50^th minute, Persepolis): -

4:0 (57^th minute, Persepolis): -

5:0 (87^th minute, Persepolis): -

6:0 (90^th minute, Persepolis): -

Lineups:

Persepolis:

Bahram Movadat, Ebrahim Ashtinai, Massih Massih-Nia, Jafar Kashani, Reza Vatankhah, Ali Parvin, Asghar Adibi, Iraj Soleimani, Hossein Kalani, Esmail Haj Rahimipour, Homayoun Behzadi

 

Coach: Alan Rogers (England)

 

Team Captain: Homayoun Behzadi

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: Red (white sleeves) Shirts, White Shorts, Red Socks

 

Taj:

Mansour Rashidi (Nasser Hejazi), Akbar Kargarjam, Nassrolah Abdolahi, Javad Allahvardi, Ezat Allah-Jan Maleki, Ali Jabari, Javad Gharab, Garo Haghverdian, Hassan Rowshan (Hadi Naraghi), Gholamhossein Mazloumi (Massoud Mojdehi), Mohamad-Reza Adelkhani

Coach: Zdravko Rajkov (Yugoslavia)

 

Team Captain: Ali Jabari

Official Kit Supplier/Designer: -

Uniform Colors: Blue (white sleeves) Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

Photo From: Magazine source unknow (most likely Keyhan Varzeshi or Donyaye Varseh) (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Persepolis’ Massih Massih-Nia in the middle)

Photo From: Donyaye Varseh (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Persepolis’ Reza Vatankhah)

Photo From: World Cup 78, by Phil Soar

(Persepolis’ Bahram Movadat)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Hors-Serie, Issue 2, 1978

(Taj’s Mansoor Rashidi)

Photo From: Mondial, old series, Hors-Serie, Issue 2, 1978

(Taj’s Mohamad-Reza Adelkhani)

Photo From: World Cup 78, by Phil Soar

(Taj’s Nassrolah Abdolahi)

Photo From: World Cup 78, by Phil Soar

(Taj’s Javad Allahvardi)

Photo From: Photo bought by me in the 80s from a shop

(Persepolis squad from the 70s containing some of the players in this match, top, left to right: Reza Vatankhah, Ebrahim Ashtinai, Jafar Kashani, Fereydoon Moeeni, Mehrab Shahrokhi, Bahram Movadat, bottom, left to right: Mohamad Dastjordi, Hossein Kalani, Massih Massih-Nia, Ali Parvin, Esmail Haj Rahimipour)

Note: Highlighted are the players who took part in this match

Photo From: Magazine source unknow (most likely Keyhan Varzeshi or Donyaye Varseh) (Provided by a blog viewer)

(Taj squad from the 70s containing some of the players in this match, top, left to right: Akbar Kargarjam, Saeed Baghvardani, Ali Jabari, Mohamad-Reza Adelkhani, Nasser Hejazi, Hassan Rowshan, bottom, left to right: Ezat Allah-Jan Maleki, Abbas Navin Roozgaroo, Hassan Nazari, Saeed Maragheh-chian, Gholamhossein Mazloumi)

Note: Highlighted are the players who took part in this match