1985–86 Iraqi National League

Iraqi National League
Season	1985–86
Champions	Al-Talaba; (3rd title)
Relegated	Al-Sulaikh; Al-Amana; Wahid Huzairan; Al-Minaa; Al-Tijara
Asian Club Championship	Al-Talaba
Arab Club Champions Cup	Al-Rasheed
Top goalscorer	Ahmed Radhi; Hussein Saeed; Rahim Hameed; (9 goals each)
	← 1984–85 1986–87 →

The 1985–86 Iraqi National Clubs League (First Division) was the 12th season of the competition since its foundation in 1974. Unlike the previous season, each win was worth two points rather than three. Al-Talaba won their third league title, finishing two points ahead of Al-Rasheed and only losing one match.^[1]^[2]

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Al-Talaba (C)	15	11	3	1	26	8	+18	25	1986 Asian Club Championship
2	Al-Rasheed	15	11	1	3	24	10	+14	23	1986 Arab Club Champions Cup^[a]
3	Al-Tayaran	15	9	4	2	22	11	+11	22
4	Al-Shabab	15	7	6	2	17	11	+6	20
5	Al-Jaish	15	8	2	5	17	10	+7	18
6	Al-Shorta	15	5	8	2	15	12	+3	18
7	Salahaddin	15	4	9	2	14	13	+1	17
8	Al-Mosul	15	5	6	4	11	14	−3	16
9	Al-Zawraa	15	5	3	7	25	15	+10	13
10	Al-Sinaa	15	3	7	5	11	11	0	13
11	Al-Sulaikh	15	3	6	6	13	14	−1	12	Relegated via play-offs^[b]
12	Al-Amana	15	3	6	6	15	22	−7	12
13	Wahid Huzairan	15	2	7	6	12	23	−11	11
14	Al-Minaa	15	3	3	9	13	22	−9	9
15	Al-Naft	15	1	5	9	8	21	−13	7	Into play-offs^[b]
16	Al-Tijara	15	1	2	12	7	33	−26	4	Relegated via play-offs^[b]

Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
(C) Champions
Notes:

^ As holders, Al-Rasheed automatically qualified for the Arab Club Champions Cup.
^ ^a ^b ^c The relegation play-offs saw two top division places being contested by the bottom six from the top division and the top four from the lower division. Al-Naft were able to retain their place in the top division through the play-offs, beating Al-Nasr 4–2, Erbil 1–0, Al-Amana 4–2 on penalties and Al-Bahri 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, while Al-Bahri earned the other place to secure promotion. Al-Sulaikh, Al-Amana, Wahid Huzairan, Al-Minaa and Al-Tijara were therefore relegated to the Iraqi National Second Division.

Results

Home \ Away	AMN	JSH	MIN	MSL	NFT	RSH	SHB	SHR	SIN	SLK	TAY	TJR	ZWR	SAL	WHU
Al-Amana							0–0	1–1	0–0	2–0		3–2	1–0		3–3
Al-Jaish	2–0		1–0	2–0	1–0				2–0	2–1		4–0	2–1	0–0	0–0
Al-Minaa	2–1			0–0	3–1				2–1						2–2
Al-Mosul	3–1				1–0		0–0	2–1	1–0			1–0			1–1
Al-Naft	1–1									1–1		1–0	0–2	2–2
Al-Rasheed	2–0	2–0	1–0	4–0	2–1		2–2	2–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	1–0			2–1
Al-Shabab		3–1	1–0		2–0			1–1	1–1	1–0		1–0	1–0	0–0	1–0
Al-Shorta		1–0	1–0		0–0				0–0	1–0		2–1	3–1	3–3	0–0
Al-Sinaa					0–0							2–0		2–0
Al-Sulaikh			1–0	1–1					1–1			3–0		0–0	2–0
Al-Talaba	1–0	1–0	3–0	0–0	3–1	1–0	3–1	1–1	0–2	1–0	3–1	2–0	2–1	0–0	5–1
Al-Tayaran	4–1	1–0	3–2	2–0	2–0		3–2	0–0	0–0	0–0		3–1	1–0	1–0	0–0
Al-Tijara			1–0												1–1
Al-Zawraa			3–0	1–1		1–0			0–0	2–2		8–0			4–0
Salahaddin	1–1		2–2	1–0		1–0						1–1	2–1		1–0
Wahid Huzairan					1–0				2–1

Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Pos	Scorer	Goals	Team
1	Ahmed Radhi	9	Al-Rasheed
	Hussein Saeed		Al-Talaba
	Rahim Hameed		Al-Jaish

Hat-tricks

Player^[1]	For	Against	Result	Date
Mohammed Jassim	Al-Tayaran	Al-Amana	4–1	28 November 1985
Hussein Saeed⁴	Al-Talaba	Wahid Huzairan	5–1	24 January 1986
Rahim Hameed	Al-Jaish	Al-Tijara	4–0	24 January 1986
Saad Jassim	Al-Zawraa	Al-Tijara	8–0	12 February 1986

Notes

⁴ Player scored 4 goals

References

^ ^a ^b Al-Sabti, Ali (2014). Iraqi League History 1974-2011. Iraq.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^ Al-Munshi, Dr.Dhia (2005). Iraqi Football Encyclopedia: Chico.. Jamoli… and football in Iraq. Citadel Printing & Design, Al-Saadoun, Baghdad.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

External links

Iraq Football Association

[table_note_res_ACCC0.94903165192764-3] As holders, Al-Rasheed automatically qualified for the Arab Club Champions Cup.

[table_note_res_RP0.94903165192764-4] The relegation play-offs saw two top division places being contested by the bottom six from the top division and the top four from the lower division. Al-Naft were able to retain their place in the top division through the play-offs, beating Al-Nasr 4–2, Erbil 1–0, Al-Amana 4–2 on penalties and Al-Bahri 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, while Al-Bahri earned the other place to secure promotion. Al-Sulaikh, Al-Amana, Wahid Huzairan, Al-Minaa and Al-Tijara were therefore relegated to the Iraqi National Second Division.

[sabti-1] Al-Sabti, Ali (2014). Iraqi League History 1974-2011. Iraq.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[2] Al-Munshi, Dr.Dhia (2005). Iraqi Football Encyclopedia: Chico.. Jamoli… and football in Iraq. Citadel Printing & Design, Al-Saadoun, Baghdad.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)

[1]

[2]

[a]

[b]