Mosul — Naft, Iraqi League

Mosul and Naft met in the Iraqi League's eighth round on Thursday, with the visitors claiming a 1-0 victory thanks to M. Adnan's ninth-minute stoppage-time goal. The result moves Naft up to fifth place with twelve points, while Mosul remain twelfth on eight after seven matches. It is a frustrating outcome for the hosts, who controlled much of the territory but could not convert.

The match unfolded with Mosul pressing forward from the outset. They registered 170 attacks compared to Naft's 146, and held 57 per cent possession throughout. To be fair, shots tell a different story — both sides managed three on target and twelve off, so the advantage was more territorial than clinical. By then, the pattern was clear: pressure without penetration.

Mosul's fortunes shifted in the sixty-fifth minute when H. Kadhim received his second yellow and was dismissed. The hosts played the second half a man down for a significant period, yet they continued to dominate possession. Naft had nothing to do all evening in terms of creating chances, but they held their shape and waited.

The decisive moment arrived in the ninety-minute stoppage. Adnan found space and finished, sending the away supporters into celebration. It was a moment that mattered more than the statistics — three or four decisive episodes decide matches, and the rest is background noise. The goal lifted Naft's confidence and extended their unbeaten run to eight.

The standings now reflect a growing gap between the two sides. Naft sit five points clear of mid-table and have won three of seven, while Mosul have lost three and cannot afford further setbacks. The goal difference remains tight at this stage, but momentum is shifting away from the hosts.