Al-Mina'a SC secured a composed 2-0 victory over Ghaz Al Shamal in the Iraq Stars League on 10 October 2026, with two second-half goals at the Al-Mina'a Olympic Stadium in Basra. The win extends Al-Mina'a's strong home form and keeps them in touch with the upper reaches of the Iraq Stars League standings.

A tight first half

The first half was a cagey affair, with Al-Mina'a controlling possession but struggling to break down a disciplined Ghaz Al Shamal defence. The visitors sat deep, looked to frustrate the home side and threatened occasionally on the counter-attack. Al-Mina'a's best chances came from set pieces, but a series of corners were dealt with comfortably by the Ghaz Al Shamal goalkeeper and his centre-backs.

Despite their dominance, the home side went into half-time level at 0-0. The Basra crowd, known for its passion, urged their team forward, and the players responded with a more direct approach after the restart.

Second-half breakthrough

The deadlock was broken in the 54th minute. A clever pass from midfield released the Al-Mina'a winger down the left, and his low cross was turned in by the striker from close range. The goal lifted the pressure and forced Ghaz Al Shamal to come out of their shell.

That change in approach created more space, and Al-Mina'a doubled their lead in the 79th minute. A swift counter-attack ended with a shot from the edge of the box that flew into the bottom corner. The visitors had no answer, and Al-Mina'a saw out the closing stages with professional maturity to secure a clean sheet and all three points.

Key moments

• 54' — Al-Mina'a SC take the lead with a close-range finish after a low cross.
• 79' — A rapid counter-attack is finished with a low strike from outside the box.
• 90' — Al-Mina'a defend resolutely to preserve their 2-0 clean sheet.

Tactical story

Al-Mina'a set up in a 4-3-3 and dominated possession, moving the ball patiently from side to side. Their full-backs pushed high, creating overloads in wide areas, but Ghaz Al Shamal defended in a compact 4-4-2 block that proved difficult to break down in the first half. The key tactical change came after the interval, when Al-Mina'a began playing more directly and attacking the space behind the defence. Once the first goal went in, the game opened up, and the home side's superior fitness and quality told.

Standout players

Al-Mina'a's central midfielder was the engine of the team, dictating tempo and providing the assist for the opening goal. The striker took his chance well and worked tirelessly for the team, while the goalkeeper made two important saves to preserve the clean sheet. For Ghaz Al Shamal, their captain in defence was a standout, making several blocks and interceptions before the second goal finally broke their resistance.

What it means for the Iraq Stars League table

The three points strengthen Al-Mina'a SC's position in the Iraq Stars League standings and maintain their impressive home record in Basra. For Ghaz Al Shamal, the defeat highlights the challenge of travelling to one of the league's toughest venues. They remain a tough side to beat when playing at home, but this result leaves them with work to do if they are to climb the table in the coming weeks.