History of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya's encounters against UAE clubs

While fans of Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya eagerly await the anticipated football showdown tomorrow evening, Monday, against their guests Al-Ain at Basra International Stadium, the language of history and numbers strongly imposes itself on the analysis table.

This match, which comes as part of the second round of the AFC Champions League, represents not only a battle for three points but also a new chapter in the historical excitement and rivalry that has always characterized the encounters between the "Falcons" and clubs from the United Arab Emirates.

Asian records indicate that Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya have played 6 matches historically against UAE teams in the AFC Champions League under its previous name, with a complete and total draw in the historical record of these encounters; the Falcons achieved 3 victories and suffered 3 defeats, without recording any draws, reflecting the fierce competitiveness and great parity between Iraqi and UAE football.

In a detailed reading of the past records, this report reviews the history of encounters that began 18 years ago.

Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya opened their record against Emirati clubs in the 2008 AFC Champions League when the draw placed them against Al-Wasl.

In the first match, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya managed to assert their dominance and secured a valuable victory with a score of 1-0 thanks to a goal from star player Ali Mansour. In the return leg, Al-Wasl paid back the debt on their home ground in front of their fans, winning with a score of 2-1, thus the two teams shared the points from the two matches in this edition.

The Falcons are back to clash with Emirati football again in the 2021 edition, this time against Sharjah FC in the group stage.

Iraqi football representatives struggled in this edition as Sharjah FC secured victories in both encounters. In the first match, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya stumbled with a narrow defeat of one goal to nil (1-0), before the second match showcased an exciting offensive battle that ended with Sharjah FC winning by three goals to two (3-2) after a fierce struggle that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final minutes.

Iraq's response was swift and seismic in the 2022 edition, as Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya faced Al-Jazira. The Falcons entered both matches with a strong desire for revenge and to restore their honor, which they achieved through complete dominance both home and away.

In the first encounter, Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya turned the tables and achieved victory with a score of 2-1. They then confirmed their superiority in the second match with a dramatic and thrilling win of 3-2 on a night that fans will remember well. The Iraqi trio who scored the three goals that night were stars: Ibrahim Bayesh, Alaa Abbas, and Sharif Abdul Kazem.

The historic draw (3 wins for each side) adds a fateful tone to tomorrow's match against Al-Ain. The Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya, led by coach Rashid Jaber, are not only looking to compensate for their loss in the first round against Neftchi of Uzbekistan, but they are also aiming to break the historical tie and overcome the historic draw.