Match Report
The table gap was wide: 34 points between Naft (5th, 59 pts) and Karbala (20th, 25 pts). In league terms the two rates read 0.74/1.68 for Karbala and 0.84/0.71 for Naft (scored/conceded per game); the competition average is 1.13.
Karbala arrived off seven straight defeats. From the last five rounds, Karbala held 0 points of 15 and Naft 8.
Across 6 recorded meetings, Karbala have 0 wins to Naft's 4, with 2 draws, at 1.83 goals per meeting. Hosting has counted for little in this fixture — the home side has won only 33% of those meetings. Historically tight: 17% of the meetings went beyond two goals.
Al-Shaab Stadium staged the fixture, a ground that holds 20,000. Half-time and full-time told different stories: Karbala led 2-1 at the break, before 3 more goals closed it at 2-4.
Goal scorers
Karbala: 2 goals with no recorded scorer · Naft: Sami Hien (11'), Husam Khalaf (71'), Waleed Kareem (90'), Ahmad Sabri (85')
Key stats
Total shots: 5-10 · On target: 2-6 · Corners: 3-5