1980–81 Iraqi National League

Iraqi National League
Season	1980–81
Champions	Al-Talaba; (1st title)
Relegated	Al-Adhamiya
Top goalscorer	Hussein Saeed; (11 goals)
	← 1979–80 1981–82 →

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:

^ ^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
3	Karim Mousa	5	Al-Shabab

Hat-tricks

Player^[1]	For	Against	Result	Date
Hussein Saeed⁴	Al-Talaba	Al-Adhamiya	6–0	16 February 1981
Faisal Aziz	Al-Shorta	Al-Amana	3–1	26 April 1981
Ali Hussein Mahmoud	Al-Shorta	Al-Zawraa	3–0	19 May 1981

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_hth_TLB0.87825099047192-3] Al-Talaba ranked ahead of Al-Shorta by number of wins, due to equal points and goal difference.

[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)

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