Resilience on the Edge: Zawraa Keeps Asian Dream Alive with a 2-1 Win

Zawraa's crucial victory keeps Asian ambitions alive

Al-Zawraa of Iraq earned a valuable 2-1 win over Goa FC in the fifth, penultimate round of Group Four in the AFC Champions League 2, on Wednesday night, renewing hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.

With the result, the team rose to 9 points and sits second, behind group leaders Al-Nassr who had already sealed top spot. Goa remains at the bottom with zero points, while Istiklol sits third with 6 points.

Off-field turmoil, on-field grit

Before kickoff, Zawraa faced a dramatic challenge as head coach Emad Nahhas learned his son had been in a car accident and rushed to intensive care for treatment. The coaching staff, led by assistant Hussein Fawzi, organized a quick, calm plan as the team prepared to play under pressure.

On the pitch, the match had its moments. In the 34th minute, Goa's Ayoch Dev Chettri was sent off with a second-yellow card after a foul that earned Zawraa a penalty. Ibrahim Tomio's spot-kick in the 36th minute was saved, but Kazem Mohammed headed home a corner in the 38th to give Zawraa the lead before halftime.

Second half, more battles, and a precious victory

Early in the second half, Zawraa made a strategic substitution, bringing on Mohammad Qasim for Mehdi Al-Humaydan, but Goa pressed on. An own goal by Dargham Ismail in the 51st minute briefly equalized matters for Goa. Zawraa answered quickly, as Hazem Abdul Karim fired a shot that hit the net in the 65th minute to restore the advantage.

In the final stages, both teams tightened the defense. Zawraa reinforced with Haidar Abdul Karim and Murad Sobhi to seal the spaces against counterattacks. The Iraqi side held on for a fifth consecutive win across all competitions under Nahhas, strengthening their hopes for the Asian journey ahead.

Zawraa's long, proud history continues, with a fanbase known as the "Nawaras" and a legacy of domestic success. The club now turns its attention to the decisive final group fixture away to Al-Nassr in Riyadh on December 22, where goal difference could decide the second qualification spot.

Punchline: In football, when life throws a crisis, the best counter is a comeback—Zawraa did it with a header and a heartbeat. Punchline 2: If drama paid salaries, tonight the bench would have funded a small cinema.]