Erbil beat Al-Karkh 1-0 in the Iraq League Regular Season on Monday, a result that keeps the visitors unbeaten after three matches while Al-Karkh remain winless at the bottom of the table. The match took place on 25 August 2026, and the outcome was decided before either side had really settled into it.
I. Bayesh put Erbil ahead in the fourth minute, a moment that shifted the balance immediately. By then Al-Karkh had already begun to chase the game rather than control it, and they never really found a way back into it. To be fair, Erbil never looked threatened, but the early goal meant they could camp in the final third without panic.
The statistics tell the story of a one-sided afternoon. Erbil held 61 per cent possession against 39 for the hosts, and registered three shots on target compared to Al-Karkh's single attempt on goal. The visitors also had seven corners to three, and while both sides had one offside, the difference in attacking intent was clear enough.
Al-Karkh now sit twenty-first with just one point from four games, having lost three and drawn once. Erbil lead the table with ten points from the same number of matches, combining three wins and a draw without a defeat. The gap between them is no longer theoretical.
What this means is straightforward. Erbil will make life awkward for anyone they face next, while Al-Karkh cannot afford another slip if they want to avoid relegation trouble. The history between them adds an edge, but today the table showed exactly where things stand.