Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Novin Opens Season With Commanding Victory

ESFAHAN, Iran (Interstat) — Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Novin opened its Persian Gulf Pro League campaign with a decisive 3-1 victory over Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan FC on Monday at a lively Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium.

The match, played on Feb. 23, 2026, saw the home side outperform pregame projections and seize control early, never relenting against a visiting squad that struggled to find its footing in the season opener for both clubs.

The home fans had little time to wait for the opening breakthrough. In the 11th minute, Amir Hossein Jalalivand found the net, giving Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Novin an early lead and setting the tone for the first half. The pressure continued, and deep into first-half stoppage time, Arash Rezavand doubled the advantage, sending the hosts into the break with a commanding 2-0 lead.

Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan FC emerged from halftime with renewed intent but was repeatedly thwarted by an organized Foolad defense. Any hope of a comeback was effectively extinguished in the 70th minute when veteran striker Kaveh Rezaei added a third goal for the hosts, putting the result beyond doubt. The visiting side managed a consolation goal later in the match, but it did little to alter the comprehensive nature of the defeat.

The final score defied the pre-match simulation from Interstat, which had projected a narrower 1-0 win for Foolad. The firm’s ELO rating system had given the home side a 78.2 percent probability of victory, a forecast that proved conservative in light of the dominant performance.

With the result, Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Novin begins its season with a perfect record of one win and no losses in the Persian Gulf Pro League, and an identical mark across all competitions. For Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan FC, the loss marks a disappointing start, leaving them with a record of no wins and one loss both in the league and in all competitions.

The match showcased Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Novin’s attacking efficiency and defensive solidity, providing an ideal start to their league campaign. Meanwhile, Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan FC will look to regroup quickly after a performance that fell short of the competitive standard required in Iran’s top-flight division.