History of Al-Shorta's encounters with Omani clubs

When Al-Shorta meets Al-Seeb of Oman tomorrow, Wednesday, at Al Zawraa Stadium in the opening of the AFC Champions League 2, it will not be just an ordinary group stage match, but a return to a long history spanning over 28 years, when the two teams met for the only time in their history.

The only encounter between the 'Green Lyre' and Omani clubs was against the same opponent, Al-Seeb, and it took place in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup during the 1997-1998 season.

The first leg took place on August 15, 1997, in Oman, and it featured a crazy attacking match.

Al-Seeb exploited the factors of home ground and crowd support to achieve a difficult 3-2 victory over Al-Shorta, in a match that was open from both sides and witnessed a total of 5 goals.

Despite the loss, Al-Shorta returned with two important results, scoring two away goals, which gives them a relative advantage ahead of the second leg in Baghdad.

The return match was supposed to take place in Baghdad, and Al-Shorta could only compensate for a one-goal deficit to qualify.

But what happened next was shocking for the fans of Al Zawraa. The team did not play the return match for administrative and organizational reasons at the time, leading to their withdrawal and allowing Al-Seeb to advance directly to the next round of the Asian Cup Winners' Cup.

The decision to withdraw at that time was linked to the difficult circumstances faced by the club and Iraqi football in general during the 1990s, as well as challenges in transportation and funding.

Today, after 28 full years, history brings the two teams face to face once again, but under completely different circumstances.

Al-Shorta are the Iraq Stars League champions for four consecutive seasons, showcasing stability among Iraqi clubs. They play at home in Al Zawraa Stadium, supported by their fans, and boast a squad of local and professional stars.

Al-Seeb have emerged as one of the top clubs in Oman, having won the AFC Cup in 2022.