Duhok vs Tikveš

Duhok's first goal, scored roughly midway through the first half, changed the dynamic of the match. Tikveš had started with a compact shape but were forced to push forward after falling behind, leaving gaps that Duhok exploited for the second goal. The Iraqi side's physical conditioning — already several days into their Turkey camp which began on 16 July — showed against a Tikveš team still in the early phase of their own preparations.

Duhok's defence: The back four, anchored by their experienced central pairing, kept Tikveš to minimal chances. The clean sheet was Duhok's first of their pre-season programme.

Duhok's midfield engine: The central midfielders dictated the tempo, recycling possession efficiently and breaking up Tikveš counter-attacks before they developed.

Tikveš goalkeeper: Despite the defeat, the Tikveš keeper made several saves to keep the scoreline respectable, particularly during a spell of Duhok pressure midway through the second half.

Player of the match: The provider payload did not include official player-of-the-match data, but Duhok's central defensive partnership was the foundation of the win.

The provider payload confirms a 2-0 full-time scoreline with no half-time data recorded. The absence of detailed match statistics (possession, shots, xG) is standard for closed-door pre-season friendlies at this level. The clean sheet extends Duhok's positive defensive trend from the end of last season, when they kept three clean sheets in their final five competitive matches of the 2025-26 campaign (BetExplorer: Duhok results, May-June 2026).

Duhok (Iraq Stars League): The win is a solid start to a Turkey camp that runs from 16-31 July. BasNews reported on 15 July that Duhok had scheduled four friendly matches against clubs from North Macedonia, Turkey and Saudi Arabia (BasNews English via X/Twitter, 15 July 2026). The club will face Antalyaspor and Amedspor among others as they prepare for the 2026-27 Iraqi Stars League season.

Tikveš (Macedonian First League): The North Macedonian side used the match as part of their own pre-season build-up. Tikveš had also played Baltika (losing 6-0 on 11 July 2026) in an earlier friendly (365Scores). Their competitive season in the 1.MFL was scheduled to begin in early August 2026.

A straightforward pre-season workout that Duhok controlled from start to finish. The scoreline reflects the gap in preparation timelines — Duhok were five days into their Turkey camp while Tikveš were still building fitness. The result tells us little about the competitive season ahead, but Duhok's defensive organisation and physical condition were clear positives for their coaching staff.