Malavan and Esteghlal Tehran played out a goalless draw in an Iran Cup match on May 30, 2025. The highly-anticipated cup tie failed to produce a goal, setting up a tense replay or deciding the tie on penalties, depending on the competition's format. Esteghlal, one of Iran's most famous clubs, enjoyed more possession but found a resolute Malavan defense difficult to break down. The home side had the best chance of the game in the second half, hitting the crossbar with a powerful header from a corner. The match was not without controversy, as Malavan had a strong penalty appeal waved away late on. The result keeps both teams in the hat for the next round, assuming the format allows it, but leaves the ultimate qualification uncertain. Both managers acknowledged the defensive solidity of the opposition in their post-match comments.