Match Report
17 points separated the sides: Newroz SC 8th on 57, Al Minaa Basra 15th on 40. Al Minaa Basra had been over-performing their table position on recent form: 9th in the league over the last five rounds against 15th overall. Against a league average of 1.21 goals per team per game, Newroz SC ran at 1.29 scored and 1.21 conceded, Al Minaa Basra at 1 and 1.24.
Newroz SC's unbeaten run stood at 6. Al Minaa Basra had been beaten in three straight games. The last-five ledger: Newroz SC 11/15, Al Minaa Basra 2/15.
Across 7 recorded meetings, Newroz SC have 3 wins to Al Minaa Basra's 0, with 4 draws, at 2.57 goals per meeting. Home advantage has meant little here: 14% of the meetings went to the host. Historically tight: 29% of the meetings went beyond two goals.
The match was played at Newroz International Stadium. Newroz SC led 2-0 at the break, and the second half added 3 goals for the 4-1 full-time score.
Goal scorers
Newroz SC: Marwan Hussein (80'), Mohammed Ridha Jalil (16'), Marwan Hussein (30'), Cláudio Maradona (84') · Al Minaa Basra: Karrar Jaafer (90')
Key stats
Possession: Newroz SC 42% · Al Minaa Basra 58% · Total shots: 17-7 · On target: 10-2 · Corners: 3-4