Al-Shurta claimed a 2-1 victory away at Garraf in the Iraqi League's sixth round of matches on Tuesday evening. The result shifts the visitors into fifth place while the hosts remain in thirteenth. It was a match that opened with promise for the home side before the visitors turned things around.
Garraf took the lead through C. Barco in the sixty-fifth minute from the penalty spot. The home side had been pressing forward, registering seven shots on target in the first portion of the game. They carried the side for much of this period, but one moment of quality from the visitors would prove decisive.
A. Hadhri equalised for Al-Shurta six minutes later, responding to the pressure with composure. The visitors then found their rhythm, with A. Basim completing the turnaround in the eighty-fourth minute. We had called for the away side to win at 56 per cent confidence, and the late goals vindicated that assessment.
The statistics tell a story of two different approaches. Al-Shurta registered seven shots on target compared to Garraf's two, and they converted their chances more ruthlessly. The home side accumulated 75 attacks against 85 for the visitors, but possession alone did not decide the contest.
The result moves Al-Shurta to nine points from six games, with one defeat to their name. Garraf sit on six points after one win, three draws and two losses. The visitors had already shown resilience in their recent form, drawing with Erbil before beating Mogul 2-0.