1980–81 Iraqi National League

Iraqi National League
Season1980–81
ChampionsAl-Talaba
(1st title)
RelegatedAl-Adhamiya
Top goalscorerHussein Saeed
(11 goals)

The 1980–81 Iraqi National Clubs League (First Division) was the 7th season of the competition since its foundation in 1974. The competition was originally meant to be held in a double round-robin format, but was later changed to a single round-robin tournament due to the Iran–Iraq War. Al-Talaba won the league title for the first time in their history.

Holders Al-Shorta defeated Al-Zawraa 3–0 on the final day of the season on 19 May to move on equal points and equal goal difference with Al-Talaba. Although Al-Shorta had scored two more goals than Al-Talaba, the Iraq Football Association decided that teams who were equal on points and goal difference would be separated by number of wins and therefore Al-Talaba were crowned champions.[1][2]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Al-Talaba 11 8 1 2 19 5 +14 17[a] League Champions
2 Al-Shorta 11 6 5 0 21 7 +14 17[a]
3 Al-Tayaran 11 6 4 1 17 7 +10 16
4 Al-Shabab 11 5 3 3 13 9 +4 13
5 Al-Tijara 11 5 3 3 10 9 +1 13
6 Al-Jaish 11 3 6 2 10 8 +2 12
7 Al-Zawraa 11 3 4 4 14 17 −3 10 FA Cup Winners
8 Al-Minaa 11 3 4 4 8 14 −6 10
9 Al-Sinaa 11 1 6 4 8 12 −4 8
9 Salahaddin 11 1 6 4 8 12 −4 8
11 Al-Amana 11 1 5 5 13 15 −2 7
12 Al-Adhamiya 11 0 1 10 3 29 −26 1 Relegated to Iraqi National Second Division
Source: Ali Al-Sabti Archive
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Al-Talaba ranked ahead of Al-Shorta by number of wins, due to equal points and goal difference.

Results

Home \ Away ADH AMN JSH MIN SHB SHR SIN TLB TAY TJR ZWR SAL
Al-Adhamiya 1–1
Al-Amana 4–0 0–0 1–1
Al-Jaish 2–0 2–1 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–1
Al-Minaa 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–0
Al-Shabab 2–1 1–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 2–2 4–1
Al-Shorta 4–0 3–1 1–1 3–0 1–0 2–1 1–1 3–0
Al-Sinaa 3–1 1–1 0–0 1–1 0–0
Al-Talaba 6–0 1–0 1–0 3–1 1–0 2–0 2–0 1–0 0–0
Al-Tayaran 2–0 1–1 4–0 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 0–0
Al-Tijara 2–0 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–0
Al-Zawraa 1–0 3–2 2–2 2–2 2–2 2–1
Salahaddin 2–0 2–2 1–1
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 Hussein Saeed 11 Al-Talaba
2 Ali Hussein Mahmoud 9 Al-Shorta
3 Faisal Aziz 5 Al-Shorta
Karim Mousa Al-Shabab

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Iraq Stars League hat-tricks
Player[1] For Against Result Date
Iraq Hussein Saeed4 Al-Talaba Al-Adhamiya 6–0 16 February 1981
Iraq Faisal Aziz Al-Shorta Al-Amana 3–1 26 April 1981
Iraq Ali Hussein Mahmoud Al-Shorta Al-Zawraa 3–0 19 May 1981
Notes

4 Player scored 4 goals

References

  1. ^ a b 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)