Latest news with #Al-Shorta
Iraqi News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Al-Shorta eye top spot in Iraqi Stars League as Round 34 action kicks off
Baghdad ( – Round 34 of the Iraqi Stars League kicks off today (Sunday, May 18, 2025) with three intriguing encounters across Baghdad and Sulaymaniyah, headlined by Al-Shorta's crucial match as they continue their pursuit of the title. Currently second with 71 points and level with leaders Al-Zawra'a (who lead on head-to-head having played one more game), Al-Shorta can seize the top spot with a victory. They host an improved Diyala SC (17th, 31 points) at Al-Shaab International Stadium at 8:30 PM in what will be their 33rd match of the season, bringing them level on games played with Al-Zawra'a. Earlier at 6:00 PM, Al-Naft (7th, 51 points) will welcome Naft Maysan (11th, 43 points) to Al-Saher Ahmed Radhi Stadium. Simultaneously, Newroz SC (reportedly 21st with 41 points) face a vital clash against relegation-battling Naft Al-Basra (18th, 28 points) at Newroz Stadium. Today's results are set to significantly impact both the thrilling championship race and the fight for survival at the bottom of the table.
Iraqi News
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Kings of the Court: Masafi Al-Shamal crowned Iraqi volleyball champions
Baghdad ( – After weeks of intense competition culminating in the 'Golden Square' playoffs held in Kufa and Baghdad, Masafi Al-Shamal have been crowned champions of the 2024-2025 Iraqi Volleyball Premier League! Their journey to the title was reportedly sealed with a crucial victory over Al-Shorta before the final day's play in the second gathering, showcasing their season-long dominance. Reflecting on their triumph, Masafi Al-Shamal's #15, Omar Ali, told IraqiNews, 'I feel very proud to be part of this amazing team. I am very grateful for the coach, the management, and all of my fellow players; everyone has done an extreme effort and this achievement is the result of months of hard work and dedication.' While Masafi Al-Shamal had secured the championship, the concluding playoff matches still delivered significant drama for the final placings. Last year's champions, Ghaz Al-Junoob, fought hard to claim the runner-up spot for the season, impressively defeating the new champions Masafi Al-Shamal in their final encounter. In other crucial final ranking matches, Al-Shorta secured third position despite a concluding loss to a spirited Erbil side, who finished fourth. Throughout the playoffs, individual brilliance shone. In a fiercely contested earlier 'Golden Square' match between Al-Shorta and Masafi Al-Shamal (reportedly a 3-1 win for Masafi that clinched the title early), Al-Shorta's #10, Mohammed Kareem Abdullah, was a standout. He played a 'very competitive match' and led his team to win a set with his exciting play, even though Masafi's overall defense was noted as stronger in that pivotal encounter. The 2024-2025 Iraqi Volleyball League has now concluded, marking Masafi Al-Shamal as the deserving champions after a season filled with high-level play and thrilling contests.
Iraqi News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Al-Zawra'a and Al-Shorta both win to stay level on points in tight Iraqi Stars League title race
Baghdad ( – The intense battle for the Iraqi Stars League title continued on Tuesday (May 13, 2025) as both front-runners, Al-Zawra'a and Al-Shorta, secured crucial victories in Round 33 to remain locked on 71 points at the top of the table. League leaders Al-Zawra'a overcame Naft Maysan 2-0, with goals from Ibrahim Tomiwa (15′) and Mundhir Al-Alawi (47′), despite finishing with ten men after Hussein Fallah's dismissal. Hot on their heels, Al-Shorta produced a dominant display, thrashing Al-Karma 4-0. Bassam Shakir opened the scoring, followed by a brace from league top scorer Mohanad Ali (now on 24 goals), and a late strike by Ahmed Farhan. While both giants sit on 71 points, Al-Zawra'a currently hold the top spot (having played 33 games), likely due to tie-breaking rules. However, Al-Shorta (32 games played) crucially still hold one game in hand, which could be decisive in the thrilling championship run-in. Notably, new Iraq national team coach Graham Arnold was spotted observing the Al-Shorta match. In other R33 action, Zakho consolidated third place (59 points) with a 4-0 win over Al-Hudood, while Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya (53 points) defeated Karbala 4-1.
Iraqi News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Masafi Al-Shamal dominate first round of Iraqi volleyball 'Golden Square' playoffs
Najaf ( – Masafi Al-Shamal emerged undefeated to top the standings after the conclusion of the first gathering of the Iraqi Volleyball Premier League's 'Golden Square' championship playoff. The intense three-day round-robin tournament took place in Kufa, Najaf, from May 8th to 10th, 2025. Masafi Al-Shamal secured a perfect record with three victories, earning 8 points. Their campaign included a clean 3-0 sweep against Ghaz Al-Junoob (25-20, 26-24, 25-18), another 3-0 win over Erbil (25-17, 25-18, 25-18), and a crucial 'marathon' 3-2 victory against rivals Al-Shorta (25-21, 18-25, 19-25, 25-23, 15-9). Al-Shorta finished the first gathering in second place with 6 points from two wins and one loss. They defeated Erbil 3-0 and clinched a thrilling 3-2 win against Ghaz Al-Junoob (24-26, 25-23, 25-17, 20-25, 17-15) in their final match. Ghaz Al-Junoob secured third place with 4 points, their sole victory coming 3-0 against Erbil (25-22, 25-23, 25-18). Erbil ended the round in fourth with no points. The opening gathering was not without contention, as some fans alleged clear refereeing bias against Erbil during their 0-3 loss to Al-Shorta on the first day. The championship battle now moves to Baghdad for the second and final gathering, scheduled for May 15th, 16th, and 17th, where the 2024-2025 Iraqi volleyball league champion will be crowned.
Iraqi News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Iraqi News
Al-Shorta draw level with leaders Al-Zawra'a after Iraqi Stars League R31 win
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Stars League title race intensified dramatically on Saturday (May 3, 2025) as Al-Shorta secured a crucial 1-0 away victory over Newroz in Round 31, drawing level on points with leaders Al-Zawra'a. Sajjad Jassim scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot just 11 minutes into the match. The win propelled Al-Shorta to 65 points. This matches the points tally of Al-Zawra'a, who were held to a 0-0 draw away at third-placed Zakho in their Round 31 fixture. While Al-Zawra'a likely remain top for now due to a superior goal difference, the pressure mounts significantly as Al-Shorta (30 games played) crucially still hold one game in hand over the leaders (31 games played). This tightens the thrilling battle for the Iraqi championship considerably with just a few rounds remaining. In Saturday's other match mentioned, Al-Mina'a boosted their survival hopes with a 1-0 away win against Al-Karma, reaching 34 points.
