Erbil Gifts League Title to Al-Jawiya After Victory Over Al-Shorta with Two Goals

Erbil dealt a severe blow to Al-Shorta's hopes of retaining the league title after achieving a deserved 2-0 victory over them this evening, as part of the 36th round of the Iraqi Stars League, in a match that turned the balance of the battle for the top upside down.

The Hulairi team entered the match with high focus and succeeded in taking an early lead through Chupanov in the 15th minute, after an organized attack concluded by the professional with a precise shot that left the Al-Shorta goalkeeper with no option but to watch it embrace the net. The early goal disrupted the Green Castle's calculations and forced them to leave their areas in search of an equalizer.

Al-Shorta got a golden opportunity to come back in the 37th minute when the referee awarded them a penalty, but the striker Lionel Atiba squandered it after goalkeeper Kamil Latif brilliantly saved it, allowing Erbil to maintain their lead and end the first half ahead by a single goal.

As the second half began, Al-Shorta tried to intensify the pressure and regain the initiative, but Erbil was more organized and took advantage of the spaces behind the opponent's defense. In the 66th minute, Christian Barco added the second goal for the Hulairi team with a powerful shot that found the Al-Shorta net, giving his team a comfortable advantage before the last quarter of an hour.

Al-Shorta did not give up, and Atiba scored a goal in the 84th minute that revived hope for the Baghdad team, but the players' joy did not last long as the referee canceled the goal for offside after referring to the VAR technology. The decision sparked wide objections from Al-Shorta players, but it did not change the outcome, which ended with Erbil winning 2-0.

With this victory, Erbil raised their tally to 73 points, remaining in third place. The result confirms the Hulairi team's return to the forefront after an inconsistent season and proves that the current technical project is capable of competing with the big teams.

As for Al-Shorta, their tally froze at 76 points in second place, widening the gap with Al-Jawiya to 7 points with two rounds remaining. The loss officially granted the Falcons the league title after their 2-1 victory over Al-Zawraa, allowing the Al-Jawiya fans to celebrate the championship before the end.