Karbala and Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya met in the Iraq League on Sunday, and the visitors took all three points with a 3-2 win. The home side had fought back from behind to level, but Al-Quwa struck twice in the closing stages to turn the match.
It was Karbala who took the lead through an own goal by S. Bindjeme in the 35th minute. Al-Quwa responded with A. Boudrama's strike at the hour mark, but Karbala clawed their way back when A. Amutu found the net in the 63rd. The home side thought they had done enough, but J. Akpudje put the visitors ahead in the 71st.
Karbala refused to lie down. They pulled one back in the 83rd minute to make it 2-2, and for a moment it looked as though the points would be shared. Al-Quwa, however, held firm and saw out the remainder without conceding again.
The statistics tell a story of a match where chances went begging. Karbala had slightly more possession at 47 percent and edged the attack count, but they were less clinical—nine shots on target compared to five for the visitors. Al-Quwa made better use of what they created.
The result keeps Al-Quwa in 10th place on seven points from six games, while Karbala remain 16th with five. The visitors extended their unbeaten run to five, having drawn four and lost just once in that span.