Al Shorta defeated Naft Al Basra 3-1 to confirm a fourth consecutive Iraq Stars League title with two matches to spare on Friday.

 

Ahmed Yahya put Al Shorta ahead in the 36th minute with Hassan Dakhel drawing Naft Al Basra level two minutes into the second half.

The champions, however, were not to be denied with Mohanad Ali restoring their advantage in the 58th minute with Mahmoud Al Nawas' 80th minute strike confirming the win.

 

The title was secured after Al Zawraa suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Al Karkh, which left them on 74 points - nine behind Al Shorta with two matchdays remaining.

 

Zakho confirmed a third place finish after playing to a goalless draw with Al Najaf, which took them to 67 points, seven clear of Al Talaba.

Al Ansar surged to the top of the league with a stunning 2-0 win against previous leaders Safa on Saturday.

Nader Matar put Al Ansar ahead in the 24th minute with Mohammad Hboos confirming victory with his strike deep into stoppage time.

 

The win took Al Ansar to 36 points, one ahead of Safa while Al Ahed are third on 29 points after a 2-2 draw with Al Hikma.

Thimphu City extended their winning start in the Bhutan Premier League with a 7-0 defeat of Samtse. Mbemba Bangoura and Dawa Tshering grabbed two goals apiece while Oussa Junior and Affi Matheo both scored own goals within eight minutes.

Rassoul Ba’s brace helped second-placed Paro to a 3-2 win over BFF Academy to also give them their fourth straight victory. The Senegal striker’s good work, however, was undone five minutes into time added on when he was sent off for a second yellow card.

 

Transport United beat Ugyen Academy 3-2 before defeating Tsirang 4-0, thanks to a second-half hat-trick from Nigerian striker Afeez Oladipo that helped them retain third place.

 

RTC beat Tensung 3-0 to consign the bottom side to their fourth consecutive defeat.

Maksat Alygulov struck twice as Muras United beat Oshmu-Aldier 3-1 to consolidate pole position in the Kyrgyz Republic Premier League.

United have won 10 of their 13 matches and are on 32 points, four clear of second-placed Alay Osh, who were held to a goalless draw by second-from-bottom Bishkek City. 

 

In other matches, FC Ozgon beat bottom side Asiagoal Bishkek 2-0 while Talant FC overcame Kyrgyzaltyn 2-0.

Two goals by Khusayin Norchaev helped FC Nasaf to a 3-1 win over FC Mash'al in the Uzbekistan Super League. The defending champions are unbeaten in 13 matches and lead the standings with 31 points, six clear of Dinamo Samarkand, who have two matches in hand.

Third-placed FC AGMK fell 3-0 to Navbahor Namangan to record their fourth consecutive winless result while Neftchi Fargona, in fifth, extended their run of unbeaten matches to six with a 1-0 win over Buxoro FC.

 

Other matches saw FC Sogdiana beat Khorezm Urgench by a solitary goal while Andijan and Qizilqum Zarafshon played out a goalless score.

 

Sixteen-time champions Pakhtakor handed Kokand 1912 their fifth consecutive defeat with a 2-0 win while bottom club FC Shurtan picked up only their second victory with a 2-1 defeat of FC Surkhon.

Five different players scored in CSKA Dushanbe’s 5-1 defeat of Pandzhsher Dzhaloliddin, who have yet to win in 13 matches. It was the fifth straight triumph for the Tajik League leaders, who last claimed the title in 1995.

Defending champions FC Istiklol lost 1-0 to Khujand before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Regar Tadaz Tursunzade. The win propelled the 13-time league winners from fourth to second place on 24 points, three behind Dushanbe.

 

Ravshan dropped one spot to fourth with a goalless draw against Eskhata Khujand.

 

Second-from-bottom FC Hulbuk, who have yet to win in 11 matches, went down 2-1 against Kulob Istaravshan, who are perched one rung above them.

FC Arkadag maintained their Yokary Liga superiority with a 1-0 win over FC Ashgabat. The two-time titleholders, who defeated Ashgabat 2-0 in their previous encounter, have won all 12 of their matches and have a game in hand over second-placed FC Ahal.

 

Arkadag also moved into the Turkmenistan Cup last four by beating Nebitchi Balkanabat 3-1 in the second leg for a 9-1 aggregate win. The defending champions will meet Ashgabat, who defeated Altyn Asyr 5-3 on aggregate.

 

Sagadam made the semi-finals with a 4-1 aggregate win over FK Merw while Ahal booked the last spot after overcoming Kopetdag Ashgabat 3-2.