In his statements to Al-Rabia Sports Channel, former Iraqi international Karim Saddam revisited the events of the Iraqi football Clasico that brought together Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and Al-Zawraa at the International City Stadium, confirming that the match featured two contrasting halves in terms of technical and tactical performance.

Saddam said: "The first half was of average level, and Al-Zawraa relatively controlled the course of the game, but the attacking effectiveness was absent from the team at crucial moments. The VAR technology intervened in the 7th minute in favor of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya and awarded them a legitimate penalty, while Al-Zawraa later squandered two opportunities that could have changed the course of the match in their favor."

He added: "The second half was completely different, as Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya started with greater vitality and cleverly exploited the movements of their players, while coach Rashid Jaber succeeded in instilling the necessary confidence in the players to present a balanced attacking performance with defensive discipline, which allowed the team to score the second goal and secure the three points."

Saddam pointed out that this match highlighted the factor of experience and mental readiness of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya players, emphasizing that the team benefited greatly from the tactical changes made by the coach between the two halves, which allowed for closing spaces in front of Al-Zawraa and effectively exploiting counter-attacks.

He also noted that the victory reflects the team's ability to overcome the significant public pressure associated with facing the two poles of Iraqi football, praising the fighting spirit of the players and their adherence to the coach's plan until the final moments of the match.

Saddam concluded his remarks by saying: "Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya today provided an important lesson for all teams in the league, which is that tactical discipline and confidence in the players are the key factors for success in big matches, and this victory will give the team a significant morale boost to continue competing for the top positions in the Iraqi Stars League."