Moghul claimed a 2-1 victory over Diyala in the Iraq League's Regular Season round two on Thursday. The hosts secured all three points at home, though the match only settled in the dying moments. And here's the thing — the scoreline never quite reflected the flow of play until the final minutes.
A. Alsanati opened the scoring in the 36th minute, giving the home side an early advantage. G. Luqman doubled their lead just three minutes later, and Moghul appeared to be cruising toward a comfortable win. By then, Diyala had lost their composure, and the visitors' defensive shape began to crack under sustained pressure.
M. Khudair pulled one back for Diyala in the 93rd minute, stirring the crowd and sending the visitors searching for an equaliser. To be fair, the momentum had shifted, and Diyala threw men forward in search of a point. A fourth goal followed in the 95th minute, though the data provided does not specify who scored or which side it benefited.
The statistics told a story of contrasting approaches. Moghul held 53 per cent possession with 95 attacks, while Diyala managed 111 attacks despite having less of the ball. Both teams registered four shots on target, but Diyala fired 16 shots wide compared to Moghul's six, suggesting the visitors were desperate but inefficient in their final third.
The result leaves Moghul fifth in the table with eight points from five games, a record of two wins and two draws keeping them clear of trouble. Diyala sit 11th with five points, their one victory and two defeats leaving them in unfamiliar territory. By then, any hopes of a top-half finish had faded.