Al-Shorta settled for a 1-1 draw against its host Al-Karma, in the match that brought the two teams together this evening at the Golan Stadium as part of the 29th round of the Iraqi Stars League, causing the 'Green Harp' to lose two valuable points in the title race, while Al-Karma continued its strong performances and collected a point that raised its tally to fifth place.

Al-Shorta entered the match strongly, looking to compensate for the derby loss against Al-Zawraa, and needed only 10 minutes to shake the net. The referee awarded a penalty to the 'Harp' after a foul inside the area, which Cameroonian Lionel Atiba successfully executed to the left of Al-Karma's goalkeeper, announcing Al-Shorta's lead 1-0 in the 10th minute.

The early goal gave Al-Shorta a psychological advantage, and the team tried to enhance the result through attempts, but Al-Karma's defense and goalkeeper managed to keep the difference to a single goal until the final minutes of the first half.

Al-Karma refused to exit the first half trailing and pressed hard in the last quarter-hour. In the 39th minute, the referee awarded a second penalty in the match, this time in favor of the hosts after a handball by an Al-Shorta defender inside the area.

Star Ayman Hussein stepped up to take the penalty and confidently shot it to the right of Al-Shorta's goalkeeper to equalize 1-1, amid great joy in the stands of Al-Karma Stadium. The goal brought the match back to square one and gave the 'Canary' a huge moral boost before heading to the locker rooms.

The second half saw mutual attempts from both sides to snatch the winning goal. Al-Shorta's coach Moamen Suleiman deployed all his offensive cards, while Al-Karma's coach Essam Hamad relied on quick counterattacks led by Ayman Hussein and Mo'men Abdul Redha.

With this draw, Al-Shorta raised its tally to 60 points in second place, widening the gap with the leader Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya to 8 points with 5 rounds remaining, making the 'Harp's' task in competing for the title more difficult. Al-Shorta missed Mahmoud Al-Mawas today due to suspension, which affected the team's offensive solutions.

As for Al-Karma, it continued its series of positive results and raised its tally to 51 points, advancing to fifth place, temporarily surpassing Al-Zawraa, and confirming it is one of the best teams of the season.