Match Report
The table read 4th (Al Talaba, 66 pts) against 3rd (Erbil, 80 pts), 14 points apart. Al Talaba had been under-performing their position — 16th on five-round form against 4th in the table. In league terms the two rates read 1.39/0.92 for Al Talaba and 1.58/0.79 for Erbil (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.21.
11 matches unbeaten backed Erbil's arrival.
The head-to-head ledger counts 10 games: 4 Al Talaba wins, 4 for Erbil, 2 draws, at 2.2 goals per meeting. History backs the host here — 70% of the meetings won by the home side. Recent meetings have been cagier — 1.4 goals per game across the last five against 2.2 historically.
The venue was Stadioni Murtaz Khurtsilava, with room for 2,000 spectators. On the scoreboard, Erbil led 1-0 at the break; 4 second-half goals set the final 2-3.
Goal scorers
Al Talaba: Alaa Abdulzahra (68'), Simon Msuva (80') · Erbil: Maicol Cabrera (41'), Cristian Barco (63'), Sherzod Temirov (78')
Key stats
Possession: Al Talaba 59% · Erbil 41% · Total shots: 12-13 · On target: 6-9 · Corners: 3-1