Al-Zawraa lost to its host Istiklol Dushanbe with a score of 2-1 in the match held at the Hisor Central Stadium, as part of the third round of the AFC Champions League 2.

The match witnessed limited attendance, despite its importance in the battle for Group D, which also includes Saudi Al-Nassr and Indian Gokulam.

Al-Zawraa scored its only goal early in the fourth minute through player Ibrahim Tomiwa, but the hosts managed to turn the tables with two goals, allowing the Tajik team to secure an important victory.

Three main factors contributed to this loss, revealing a decline in the team's performance, which failed to capitalize on its ideal start in the match.

Al-Zawraa appeared disorganized on the field, lacking balance between the lines, and its possession turned into ineffective control without offensive efficiency, while the defense looked weak and uncoordinated.

The team did not know how to manage the match after taking an early lead, allowing the opponent to return and score two goals without showing a real reaction to secure at least a point.

This was the first official match for Egyptian coach Emad Al-Nahhas, which made the task more complicated, especially since his time working with the team was extremely short.

Al-Nahhas did not succeed in reading the match as required, whether in terms of the lineup or substitutions, despite relying on the experience of assistant Hossam Fawzy, who knows the team well.

Moreover, Al-Zawraa players thought victory was close after scoring the first goal, but they fell into the same mistake as in the match against Al-Shorta against Saudi Ittihad in the AFC Champions League for the elite, as they became cold and lost focus, turning the lead into a painful loss.

With this result, Al-Zawraa's points remain frozen at three in third place, while they will face Al-Qasim in their next match in the Iraqi Premier League for the fifth round.