Shams Azar Qazvin and Esteghlal Tehran shared the points in a 1-1 draw in their Iran Pro League fixture on September 26, 2025. This was an entertaining match where both teams had chances to win, but ultimately a draw was a fair result. Esteghlal, the title contenders, took the lead in the first half with a well-taken goal, putting them in a commanding position. However, Shams Azar fought back courageously and found a deserved equalizer in the second half through a powerful header from a corner. The match had a key controversy when a potential penalty for Esteghlal was waved away by the referee after a VAR check. The draw meant Esteghlal dropped two points in the title race, while Shams Azar earned a credible result against a giant. Esteghlal's manager would have expressed frustration at his team's inability to hold onto their lead.