TABRIZ, South Azerbaijan

Araz News: Tractor Sazi Azerbaijan and Gostaresh Fulad Tabriz scored impressive victories against Tehran’s teams today, during the 29th week of Iran’s Premier League Championship.

Tractor Sazi defeated Esteghlal Tehran with a final score of 4-1, consolidating a 57-point league lead.

Tractor Sazi Azerbaijan will host Naft Tehran in Tabriz this Friday for the final championship bout.

Gostaresh Fulad Tabriz was also successful in defeating Persepolis in a 2-1 win, which could possible place the team at mid-table.

Tractor Sazi Azerbaijan, or Trakhtur as it is known the local Turkish dialect, has become the unofficial team of South Azerbaijan and serves as a point of pride for Azerbaijani national identity in Iran. Azerbaijani-Turks gather in the tens of thousands for each game to not only support their team, but also to chant national slogans calling for self-determination as well as greater linguistic and cultural rights. It is quite common for Azerbaijani activists to be arrested during Tractor Sazi matches.