Late Goal Breaks the Streak as Al-Shorta Edge Al-Kahraba in Iraq’s Fourth Round
4 October 2025
Matchday Recap
Al-Shorta extended their winning streak in the Iraqi Premier League title defense by edging host Al-Kahraba 1-0 on Saturday night in the fourth round.
The home defense held firm until Ahmed Yahia delivered the decisive strike in the 90+4 minute, clinching the victory for the visitors.
With this result, Al-Shorta climbs to 9 points, sitting third under Egyptian coach Moamen Soliman, and they have a pending match against Al-Zawraa.
Al-Kahraba, meanwhile, remain on a single point, positioned near the bottom of the table.
Weekend Highlights
In the same round, Zakho defeated Noroz 4-0 at home, marking their first big win of the campaign. Ishiti Debouti opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, followed by Shiro Karim in the 23rd, an own goal by Christian Tujiciset in the 44th, and Amjad Atwan adding a fourth in the 46th.
Zakho moved up to 6 points in 8th, while Noroz stayed on 3 points in 15th.
The Qasim vs. Al-Gharraf
Al-Qasim played to a goalless draw with Al-Gharraf, lifting Al-Gharraf to 10 points in second place behind Erbil, while Al-Qasim collected a point and dropped to 18th.
In the post-match press conference, Al-Qasim coach Hussein Hadi Kazem said earning a point at Al-Gharraf is very good given the opponent’s resources, and praised his players for their discipline and effort.
Ali Khalid, Al-Qasim’s goalkeeper, added that the draw was a positive start despite the departure of some attacking players and ongoing financial dues to the squad.
Al-Gharraf coach Haider Abed noted the match was relatively straightforward, with his players arriving confident and expecting three points, though he admitted some missed chances cost them. He promised improved performances in forthcoming rounds.
Haider Hussein, another Al-Gharraf player, commented that this is their first season in the top flight and that the club will push for higher finishes as the season progresses.
“The points were in our hands, but fate had other plans,” Haider Hussein added, reflecting on the close result.
Upcoming Fixtures
The league schedule continues with four matches on Sunday: Mosul vs Diyala, Amanah Baghdad vs Naft Maysan, Al-Minaa vs Najaf, and Zawraa vs Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya.
Jassim Sultan, Mosul’s coach, thanked the Ninawa crowd and urged support for the team in tomorrow’s match, noting Diyala’s talented squad and their nine points from three games. He emphasized that his team has 25 players ready to take chances and that stability is the current goal.
Diya Al-Diyala’s assistant coach said the clash with the promoted Mosul is crucial and expressed optimism about clinching three points to delight their fans before the international break.
Meanwhile, the Kark club drew 2-2 with Naft in Friday’s opener, Erbil beat Karmah 2-1, and the Students defeated Duhok 2-1, highlighting a weekend full of drama and late drama in various corners of the league.
And as the dust settles, fans can brace for more twists as the race for the title tightens and the mid-table shuffle continues.
Punchline time: If football were a sniper, that last-minute goal would be the headshot—deadly precise, but hopefully legal in the living room, not just the stadium.
Punchline two: Tonight’s match proves one thing: in football as in comedy, timing is everything—and the punchline still lands at 90+4, not a minute earlier or later.
