Iraqi League Preview: Zakho at Al Mina’a SC

BAGHDAD (Interstat) – Zakho travels to Basra to face Al Mina’a SC on Sunday, May 24, in an Iraqi League matchup that pits a visiting side in middling form against a home team desperate to reverse a slide.

Kickoff is at 8 p.m. local time at Al Mina’a Stadium.

Zakho (4-5-5, 17 points) enters on the back of a 2-1 loss at Newroz on Wednesday. The defeat extended a winless run to four matches, with Zakho’s last victory coming April 23 against Al Kahrabaa SC. Over their past 10 league games, Zakho has managed two wins, three draws and five losses, scoring nine goals while conceding 14.

The visitors’ defense has been vulnerable on the road: in five away fixtures this season, Zakho has allowed 10 goals, though they have kept two clean sheets. Their attack has been inconsistent, with only one multi-goal performance in the last six outings.

Al Mina’a SC (3-5-6, 14 points) comes off a 1-1 draw at Naft on May 14. That result snapped a three-match losing streak, but the home side remains winless in its last six games, with two draws and four defeats since a 4-0 triumph over Amanat Baghdad on April 21.

At home, Al Mina’a has been poor: they have lost four of six matches at their own stadium, scoring only five goals and conceding 10. Their last home victory came March 13 against Erbil, a 2-1 result. The team has struggled to generate offense, netting just 10 goals all season – the second-worst record in the league.

The historical head-to-head between the sides was not immediately available, but Interstat’s game simulator projects a 1-0 victory for Zakho.

Both clubs sit in the lower half of the Iraqi League table, with safety from relegation still uncertain. Al Mina’a, currently 15th, is three points above the relegation zone. Zakho, in 10th place, has a five-point cushion.

Key players to watch: Zakho forward Ahmed Jassim has scored three goals in his last five appearances. Al Mina’a midfielder Ali Hadi has been the team’s most consistent creator but has not found the net in over a month.

Sunday’s referee is TBD. The match will be broadcast on Iraq Sport TV.

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