Duhok — Ghaz Al Shamal: 1:1, Iraqi League

Duhok and Al-Ghaz al-Shamal played out a 1-1 draw in the Iraqi League's regular season round six on Monday. We had backed the home side to win, though with just 40 per cent confidence. And here's the thing — that confidence evaporated the moment B. Sanchez turned his own back on his own goal.

Y. Mohammad opened the scoring early, in the seventh minute, giving Duhok the lead they deserved for their dominance. The hosts controlled 72 per cent of possession and launched 151 attacks against 65 for their visitors. By then, Al-Ghaz al-Shamal were already searching for something to break their rhythm.

Twenty-one minutes in, Sanchez's own goal changed everything. Three shots on target for the away side meant they were finding space, even if their attacks were fewer. Duhok managed only one shot on target all afternoon despite their territorial superiority — a lesson in finishing that football documentaries warn about every season.

The statistics tell a familiar story. Duhok fired 13 shots wide with just one finding the target, while Al-Ghaz al-Shamal, with three yellow cards already, were disciplined enough to frustrate. Possession meant little when you cannot convert it. To be fair, the away side sat deep and soaked it up rather than trying to match them.

The result keeps Duhok ninth with seven points from five games, while Al-Ghaz al-Shamal remain thirteenth on five. Neither side extended a winning run, but both ended a barren spell of sorts — the hosts with their first victory of the campaign, the visitors adding a point to their tally. The draw leaves both sides looking ahead to round seven.