Al Zawraa thump FC Goa to register their maiden AFC Champions League 2 victory this season

FC Goa lost 2-0 to Al Zawraa in a close contest.

FC Goa lost to Iraq’s Al Zawraa at home in their opening fixture of the AFC Champions League 2 on Wednesday. The 2-0 scoreline suggests a comfortable victory for the visiting side, but it was an intense showdown which ended in favour of Al Zawraa.

This defeat is a setback for FC Goa in their second Asian campaign. The Gaurs have been placed in a tough group and each match has its weight worth in gold. The defending Super Cup champions will face the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr which will be a mountain to climb. The disappointing result against Al Zawraa in the opening fixture has made the road arduous for FC Goa.

FC Goa succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Iraqi side Al Zawraa in their AFC Champions League Two opener! #IndianFootball #ACL2 pic.twitter.com/9ydOPmOejE

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 17, 2025

Also Read: FC Goa vs Al Zawraa SC Live | Follow AFC Champions League Two Live Updates

Al Zawraa take a narrow lead in the first half

The game started on a frantic note, giving no time for anyone to settle down. Al Zawraa made the move in the first minute and delivered their first cross, which ended at the back post. The visiting side got another great opportunity in the fourth minute following a misplaced pass in Goa’s midfield.

Mahdi Al Humaidaan received the ball and instantly made a cross to Mohammed Qasim in the box, who shot it straight into the bar. The Gaurs wasted no time in giving it back and came up with their own riposte. FC Goa used the width of the pitch to create trouble for Al Zawraa.

Iker Guarrotxena’s deft turn and pass to Boris opened up space on the wings. The Goan right-back sent a cross into the box, which almost found Javier Siverio’s head. The Gaurs used this route often in the first half, with Boris and Udanta combining on the right flank to put dangerous deliveries on the ball.

It was a fiercely matched contest in the first half, but Al Zawraa found their breakthrough to shift momentum in their favour just before the half-time. Hasan Abdulkareem initiated the move for the Iraqi side. His shot was blocked by Aakash Sangwan but rebound off the FC Goa defender fell back to Abdulkareem, who found Kadhim Mohammed’s underlapping run in the box.

Kadhim made an instant decision to set up their target man, Reziq Bani Hani, who converted the chance. Reziq’s shot stunned the home crowd, with Al Zawraa taking a crucial lead at the cusp of halftime.

Goa failed in the pursuit of an equaliser

The second half started on a similar note. Both teams went full throttle right from the first whistle. Al Zawraa’s goalscorer Reziq made a darting run into the box before releasing the ball. FC Goa somehow managed to make a goal-line clearance to deny the opposition their second goal.

To make their presence felt, the Gaurs again used the reliable combination of Boris and Udanta. A stinging cross from Boris found Udanta’s header, which went wide of the post. An intricate play between Borja and Udanta led to another promising chance in the 54th minute when FC Goa registered their first shot on target courtesy of a testing shot from the substitute Ayush Chhetri.

Borja Herrera looked dangerous in the second half, and he was at the centre of Goa’s attacking ventures. He almost found the back of the next in the 65th minute but his shot just missed the target.

So close yet so far

FC Goa put in their all to find the elusive equaliser in the last thirty minutes. Brison Fernandes, who was substituted in for Udanta, got a fantastic opportunity in the 76th minute to test the opposition goalkeeper following a great attacking play by the home side, but he shot it wide.

A minute later, Goa found another opening courtesy of a rapid sprint from Dejan Drazic cutting into the central area to find space in front of the goal. However, his shot was nowhere near the target as it went over the bar.

The Gaurs were relentless in their approach in the last ten minutes of the regulation time with frequent attacks. Manolo Marquez’s substitutions, Brison Fernandes and Abdul Rabeeh, made some impact with their attacking contributions, but it was not enough for Goa to make a comeback in the game.

Al Zawraa took advantage of FC Goa’s advanced positions on the pitch, which left space for the opposition to exploit in the closing phase of the game. They found their second goal in the last minute through Nizar Al-Rashdan’s long-range effort that beat Hrithik Tiwari, sealing three points for the former Iraqi champions.

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