Esteghlal Tehran secured a hard-fought 1-0 away victory against Mes Rafsanjan in the Iran Pro League on February 22, 2026. A solitary goal was enough for the Blues to claim all three points in a tight contest, a match result that kept them firmly in the title race. The only goal came in the second half from a moment of quality, as Esteghlal's playmaker delivered a perfect through ball for the striker to finish calmly. Mes Rafsanjan responded well and created several chances to equalize, but they were denied by a combination of poor finishing and excellent goalkeeping from the Esteghlal number one. The home team pushed until the final whistle, but Esteghlal's defense held firm to secure a vital clean sheet and three points. This win was crucial for Esteghlal's momentum, applying pressure to their rivals at the top of the league table. The Esteghlal manager praised his team's defensive resilience, while the Mes Rafsanjan coach was proud of his team's performance but lamented their lack of a finishing touch.