Fathi Al-Jabal: It Was a Tough Match, We Must Focus on What's Next

Al Quwa Al Jawiya settled for a 3-3 draw against their hosts Nawruz in a match held at the Sulaymaniyah Stadium during the first round of the Iraqi Premier League, featuring six goals and dramatic twists until the final moments of stoppage time.

Despite falling behind twice, Al-Suqoor successfully returned to avoid an opening loss, a point highlighted by Tunisian coach Fathi Al-Jabali and team captain Saad Abdul Amir after the match.

Coach Fathi Al-Jabal said in the press conference after the match:

"We started the match with great focus and managed to score an early goal that gave us the advantage. However, after that, we declined physically and mentally, allowing Nowruz to come back strongly and exploit the spaces we left."

He added: "We conceded three goals in the first half, and that's a significant number for a team of our stature. We talked at halftime about the need to correct defensive mistakes and return to tactical discipline, and we urged the players to play with the spirit of eagles and not to give up."

Mountains stated: "In the second half, the performance improved significantly. We reorganized ourselves and pressed better, managing to reduce the deficit and then equalize in the dying moments. This comeback reflects the team's character and the players' determination, but we must learn from our mistakes to avoid repeating them."

The Tunisian coach concluded: "One point is not what we came for, but under the circumstances of the match, it is considered a positive point. We have a lot of work ahead, and the league is long. We will work on addressing the negative aspects and building on the spirit that emerged in the last half hour."

Saad Abdul Amir, the midfielder and captain of Al Quwa Al Jawiya, spoke out saying:

"Honestly, we were not satisfied with our performance in the first half. We conceded easy goals that were far from our level, and that cost us a lot. Nowruz took advantage of our decline and scored from the chances he had."

He added: "But the character of Air Force emerged in the second half. We talked among ourselves and agreed to play as one man and fight until the end. Thank God we managed to come back and score two goals that earned us an important point."

Regarding the late equalizer, he said: "This is the mentality of the Falcons. We do not give up until the final whistle. We deserved more than a point if we had taken advantage of some chances, but at the start of the league, the most important thing is to begin without a loss."

Saad concluded: "We dedicate this point to our fans who always support us. We promise them that the future will be better, and we will work with the coaching staff to correct mistakes and show a stronger face in the next round."

With this draw, each team earned one point in their league debut. Al Quwa Al Jawiya left partially satisfied with the result due to a strong comeback, while Nawroz felt the loss after squandering a comfortable lead of three goals to one.

The Falcons are now looking forward to their second-round match against Erbil, aiming to achieve their first three points of the season and make up for what was lost in Sulaymaniyah.