Match Report
On the table this was a mismatch: Al Talaba (4th, 63 pts) held a 38-point advantage over Karbala (20th, 25 pts). Al Talaba had been under-performing their position — 9th on five-round form against 4th in the table. Per game in the league, Al Talaba were scoring 1.05 and conceding 0.71, Karbala 0.74 and 1.68, against a competition average of 1.13 goals per team per game.
Al Talaba had not lost in 6 games.
The sides have met 4 times in the GioScore results database: 1 win for Al Talaba, 2 draws and 1 for Karbala, at 1 goals per meeting. Home advantage has meant little here: 25% of the meetings went to the host. Historically tight: 25% of the meetings went beyond two goals.
Al-Madina International Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 32,000. On the scoreboard, Al Talaba led 1-0 at the break; 1 second-half goal set the final 2-0.
Goal scorers
Al Talaba: Austin Amutu (10'), Austin Amutu (46')
Key stats
Possession: Al Talaba 54% · Karbala 46% · Total shots: 11-2 · On target: 4-0 · Corners: 3-1