Al-Karkh claimed a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Daquq in the Iraqi League's seventh round on Saturday evening. The result moves the hosts off the bottom of the table while Daquq remain in tenth place after seven matches.
The home side took control early, Igor converting a penalty at the 38-minute mark before M. Soro Nanga doubled their lead just before half-time. By then Al-Karkh had camped in the final third with purpose, though Daquq's possession advantage suggested they would respond. And here's the thing — the visitors came out firing after the break.
Y. Hammood pulled one back for Daquq in the 49th minute, but Nanga restored the two-goal cushion with his second of the night. The away side refused to settle, and I. Tandia's late strike at 82 minutes gave the match a nervy finish. The hosts weathered the storm to hold on.
Statistics told a different story from the scoreline. Daquq dominated possession at 56 per cent and registered 117 attacks to their opponents' 79, yet only managed seven shots on target — the same as Al-Karkh despite having fewer total attempts. Chances went begging for the visitors, who had nothing to lose but everything to gain from a win.
Al-Karkh's form has been difficult, with five defeats and just one victory in their opening seven matches. This result ends a run of one win in five games, though they remain rooted to the foot of the table with four points. Daquq's consistency shows in their five draws, but they have struggled to convert draws into victories.
Our prediction had Al-Karkh winning with 39 per cent confidence — and that came through. Not a flattering percentage, but sometimes the underdog simply turns it on when it matters. The high line was picked apart at crucial moments, and that made the difference.