Al-Shorta beats Karkh 2-0 in Erbil friendly; Naft Jwan also wins

ERBIL, Iraq — Al-Shorta defeated Karkh 2-0 in a friendly match in Erbil as Iraqi Premier League sides continue their pre-season preparations ahead of the league's scheduled 14 October kickoff. Nigerian forward Fidelis Koko scored both goals in his new Al-Shorta shirt to settle the contest. The fixture was part of both clubs' pre-season camp program. Al-Shorta's coaching staff, led by head coach Sami Trabelsi, is running a conditioning plan aimed at bringing players up to full match fitness before the league opener. In another friendly played the same day, Naft Jwan beat Diyala 2-1 to underline its readiness for the new season. Naft Jwan had earlier drawn 1-1 with Naft in a previous friendly held in Erbil. Both sides are completing their final pre-season schedule ahead of the Iraqi Premier League matches set to begin on 14 October.