A tightly contested encounter at Al Zawraa Stadium ended in a 1-1 stalemate between Al Zawraa and Al Qasim SC in the Iraq Stars League on 15 May 2026. The result kept Al Zawraa in the hunt for a top-four finish, while Al Qasim SC earned a valuable point in their battle against relegation. The match, played on a warm evening in Baghdad, offered drama, defensive resilience, and moments of quality from both sides.

First Half: Al Zawraa Dominate but Fail to Capitalize

Al Zawraa, playing in front of their passionate home support, began the match on the front foot. The midfield trio of Amjed Attwan, Abbas Qasim, and Moammel Karim controlled possession, dictating the tempo from the first whistle. Their early pressure paid off in the 22nd minute when a sweeping move down the left flank ended with a cross from Ahmad Fadhel meeting the head of striker Hasan Hussein, who powered his effort past the helpless Al Qasim goalkeeper. The goal energised the home crowd, but Al Zawraa failed to build on their lead. A combination of wasteful finishing and disciplined defending from the visitors kept the scoreline at 1-0 heading into the break.

Second Half: Al Qasim Find a Lifeline

Al Qasim SC came out with renewed purpose after the interval. Coach Hashim Ridha instructed his side to press higher and exploit the space behind Al Zawraa’s full-backs. The strategy bore fruit in the 67th minute. A long ball over the top caught the home defense napping, allowing Al Qasim’s Nigerian forward, Chinedu Okafor, to latch onto the pass and slot past the onrushing goalkeeper with composure. The equaliser silenced the stadium and shifted momentum dramatically.

Al Zawraa pushed for a winner in the final 20 minutes, but Al Qasim dropped deep and defended in numbers. The visitors’ goalkeeper made several crucial saves, notably tipping a fierce drive from Alaa Abdulzahra over the bar in the 83rd minute. Despite five minutes of stoppage time, neither side could force a decisive goal. The resolute defending of Al Qasim’s centre-backs, supported by a well-organised midfield block, frustrated the hosts until the final whistle.

Standout Players and Tactical Observations

• Hasan Hussein (Al Zawraa): The striker scored the opener and remained a constant threat, holding up play well and linking with midfield. His physical presence troubled the Al Qasim defense throughout.
• Chinedu Okafor (Al Qasim SC): The forward was isolated for long periods but showed his quality with a clinical finish. His pace on the counter was Al Qasim’s main attacking weapon.
• Tactical shape: Al Zawraa’s 4-2-3-1 struggled to break down Al Qasim’s 5-4-1 in the second half. The home side lacked width when their full-backs failed to overlap effectively.

Implications for the Iraq Stars League Table

The draw leaves Al Zawraa in 5th place with 41 points, five points behind 4th-placed Al Talaba with four matches remaining. To secure a spot in the AFC Cup qualification zone, they must improve their home form – this was their third draw at home in the last five games. Al Qasim SC, meanwhile, remain in 15th place but now have 25 points, moving three points clear of the relegation zone. The point could prove vital in their survival fight. Both teams will look to build on this performance in their upcoming fixtures.