Erbil Sting Defending Champs: Al-Shorta Suffer First Iraqi League Defeat
24 October 2025
Match recap
In the fifth round of the Iraqi Premier League, defending champions Al-Shorta were defeated 1-0 by Erbil at Franso Hariri Stadium on Friday night, as Shirzod Timirov converted a precise right-wing cross in the 25th minute for the decisive goal.
Attendance was strong, but kickoff was delayed by more than 30 minutes due to an organizational hiccup when Erbil fans sat in the away section, prompting a delayed start.
Result and form
Shorta, coached by Moeen Suleiman, drop to fourth with nine points after three wins and one defeat, with a first-round clash against Al-Zawraa still to be played. Erbil, under Bassam Qasim, move to 13 points at the summit after four wins and one defeat.
The defeat comes on the back of Shorta’s recent loss to Al-Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in the AFC Champions League, contributing to a dip in momentum. Missed chances by Shorta, late saves by Erbil’s goalkeeper, and a solid Erbil defensive display kept the hosts in control.
The match also featured moments of tension as Moeen Suleiman briefly argued over a set-piece, while Erbil pressed with purpose in front of a boisterous home crowd.
Looking ahead, the fifth round continues with several fixtures, including Karmah vs Electricity, Nouruz vs Duhok, and Quwa Al-Jawiya vs Al-Gharaf, while Sunday brings Diyala vs Al-Minaa, Naft vs Aman Baghdad, Najaf vs Al-Talaba, and Zakho vs Mosul; Monday concludes with Naft Maysan vs Al-Karkh and Al-Qasim vs Al-Zawraa.
Wasam Talib, the Karmah assistant coach, highlighted the team’s plan to rebound, noting that two friendly fixtures during the break helped sharpen readiness, though some players remain unavailable due to fitness concerns.
As for the title race, Erbil sit atop the table and Shorta must regroup quickly to avoid further erosion of momentum with key games coming soon.
Punchlines: If defending the title were a quiz, Al-Shorta would have left the room with an incomplete answer. And if momentum were a bank, tonight Erbil cashed in while Shorta filed a complaint with the referee for excessive drama.
