Al-Zawraa thrash Zakho 4-0 to move top of Iraqi Stars League

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Al-Zawraa beat Zakho 4-0 at home in the Iraqi Stars League on Saturday, extending their winning run to four matches and climbing to the top of the table with eight points. The hosts led 2-0 at halftime after goals from Mohammed Qasim in the 17th minute and Hiran Ahmed in the 37th, then added two more after the break through Hiran Ahmed's second in the 52nd minute and a header from Hassan Abdulkarim in the 60th. The match, which kicked off at 9:00 p.m. local time, turned further against the visitors in the 69th minute when Shivan Jamil was shown a red card, leaving Zakho to finish the game with ten men. The result lifted Al-Zawraa to first place with eight points, while Zakho slipped to 13th on four points. The Iraqi Stars League is in its fourth week of the season.