Duhok FC has secured a historic victory, putting them halfway to the Gulf Cup final after defeating Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittifaq in the first leg of the semi-finals. Despite the overwhelming support from thousands of Al-Ittifaq fans at the stadium, the Saudi team failed to convert their early pressure into dangerous chances, and Duhok capitalized on this opportunity.
This marked the first-ever meeting between Duhok FC and Al-Ittifaq in club history. Given the significant difference in player quality, most predictions favored the Saudi club to win. However, Duhok defied expectations, scoring a crucial goal in the first half to claim a 1-0 victory.
The second leg is set for this Wednesday in Duhok, where fans are eagerly preparing to pack the stadium in hopes of securing a place in the championship final.
Duhok’s win is even more remarkable considering that just days prior, Al-Ittifaq had defeated Al-Nassr—Cristiano Ronaldo’s team—in an away match in the Saudi league.