Al Quwa Al Jawiya 3–2 Zakho SC | Iraq Stars League | 2 June 2026

Al Quwa Al Jawiya staged a dramatic comeback to edge past Zakho SC 3–2 in a thrilling Iraq Stars League encounter at the Al Shaab Stadium. The result keeps the Air Force Club firmly in the title race, while Zakho were left to rue a promising first-half performance that ultimately went unrewarded.

Match Overview

Zakho started brightly and stunned the home crowd by taking a two-goal lead inside the opening 25 minutes. But Al Quwa Al Jawiya responded with a fierce fightback, scoring three unanswered goals before half-time to take control. The second half was a tense affair, with chances at both ends, but the hosts held on for a vital victory.

Key Moments

• 12th minute: Zakho's Miran Khasraw opened the scoring with a well-placed header from a corner kick.
• 24th minute: Jalal Hassan doubled Zakho's advantage with a powerful strike from the edge of the box after a quick counter-attack.
• 32nd minute: Al Quwa Al Jawiya pulled one back through Amjad Radhi, who tapped in a rebound after a shot hit the post.
• 38th minute: The hosts equalised when Mohannad Abdul-Raheem converted a penalty after a handball in the area.
• 44th minute: Ali Qasim completed the turnaround with a curling free kick that sailed over the wall and into the top corner.

Tactical Story

Al Quwa Al Jawiya's manager Radhi Shenaishil made a key tactical switch after falling 2–0 down, pushing his full-backs higher and instructing his wingers to drift inside. This overloaded Zakho's central defence and created space for the midfielders to arrive late. Zakho, who had defended deep in the first half, struggled to adjust and were repeatedly caught out of position.

Standout Player

Mohannad Abdul-Raheem was the heartbeat of the Al Quwa Al Jawiya attack, winning the penalty and providing the assist for the first goal. His movement and hold-up play unsettled the Zakho defence throughout.

Table Impact

With the three points, Al Quwa Al Jawiya move to 40 points, just two behind league leaders Al Shorta. Zakho remain in 14th place with 22 points, now only four points above the relegation zone.