Iraq pulled off a shock victory against Australia, one of the countries who invaded Iraq in 2003 and sent the greatest number of troops there after the US and Britain. Australia were the pre-tournament favourites to be crowned wo win the tournament and be crowned Asian Champions.
Under the rule of Saddam, members of the Iraq football team and other national teams were beaten and tortured by one of his sons if they performed badly in a tournament. Now, thanks to the invasion, that won't happen again.
The game between Australia and Iraq took place in the Asian Cup which Australia takes part in due to the lack of countries in their continent of Oceania.
The "soccer" tournament is being held in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Socceroos stunned by Iraq
By Guy Hand
July 13, 2007
Asian Cup
Iraq 3-1 Australia
***********************************
Group A standings
.................Points
Iraq...............4
Thailand..........4
Australia..........1
Oman..............1
THE Socceroos' Asian Cup campaign lies in tatters after Iraq stunned the pre-tournament favourites 3-1 in their second Group A match at Rajamangala Stadium tonight.
After falling behind to a first-half goal, then equalising through skipper Mark Viduka just following halftime, Australia were picked apart defensively by the Iraqis on the hour for Hawar Mulla Mohammed to score a second.
Karrar Jassim Mohammed then finished the Socceroos off with a third with five minutes remaining to leave their tournament hanging by a thread.
Australia's hopes of continuing rest on mathematics and miracles.
They would now need victory over Thailand on Monday and the right result in the simultaneous Oman-Iraq match to keep afloat their chances of getting through to the next stage.
But on this performance, the Socceroos don't appear capable of holding up their end of the bargain - producing another below-par effort against a well-drilled Iraqi side which outthought and outplayed their much-vaunted opponents.
They were in trouble early when Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram's long-range free-kick found the net on 22 minutes to give his side the lead after an error by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Schwarzer failed to deal with the ball as it came in - Iraq's Saleh Sadir ghosting into his path appearing to put the keeper off as he simply stood despairingly as the ball drifted into the net.
Just as they were in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Oman in their Asian Cup opener, the Socceroos - with just one change to their starting line-up tonight from that match - struggled for touch and to keep possession.
The speedy, well-drilled Iraqis caused problems in the back half throughout the first 45 minutes.
The Australians' frustrations boiled over late in the half with Vince Grella and Luca Neill involved in a shoving match with an Iraqi player, with no action taken.
Australia's best chance of the half came when skipper Mark Viduka shot just wide of the left-hand post from a free-kick after 30 minutes, but it was a rare opportunity.
But Viduka bobbed up two minutes after halftime, heading home a Brett Emerton cross to equalise give his side a sniff of victory.
Iraq, with Akram dominant in midfield, then grabbed back the lead after 60 minutes.
Akram's searching ball pierced the Australian defence for Hawar to hammer home.
With Australia committing numbers forward, Iraq then added a third through Karrar to leave the Socceroos' first Asian Cup campaign on the brink.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au . . .
Under the rule of Saddam, members of the Iraq football team and other national teams were beaten and tortured by one of his sons if they performed badly in a tournament. Now, thanks to the invasion, that won't happen again.
The game between Australia and Iraq took place in the Asian Cup which Australia takes part in due to the lack of countries in their continent of Oceania.
The "soccer" tournament is being held in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.
Socceroos stunned by Iraq
By Guy Hand
July 13, 2007
Asian Cup
Iraq 3-1 Australia
***********************************
Group A standings
.................Points
Iraq...............4
Thailand..........4
Australia..........1
Oman..............1
THE Socceroos' Asian Cup campaign lies in tatters after Iraq stunned the pre-tournament favourites 3-1 in their second Group A match at Rajamangala Stadium tonight.
After falling behind to a first-half goal, then equalising through skipper Mark Viduka just following halftime, Australia were picked apart defensively by the Iraqis on the hour for Hawar Mulla Mohammed to score a second.
Karrar Jassim Mohammed then finished the Socceroos off with a third with five minutes remaining to leave their tournament hanging by a thread.
Australia's hopes of continuing rest on mathematics and miracles.
They would now need victory over Thailand on Monday and the right result in the simultaneous Oman-Iraq match to keep afloat their chances of getting through to the next stage.
But on this performance, the Socceroos don't appear capable of holding up their end of the bargain - producing another below-par effort against a well-drilled Iraqi side which outthought and outplayed their much-vaunted opponents.
They were in trouble early when Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram's long-range free-kick found the net on 22 minutes to give his side the lead after an error by Australian goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Schwarzer failed to deal with the ball as it came in - Iraq's Saleh Sadir ghosting into his path appearing to put the keeper off as he simply stood despairingly as the ball drifted into the net.
Just as they were in the disappointing 1-1 draw with Oman in their Asian Cup opener, the Socceroos - with just one change to their starting line-up tonight from that match - struggled for touch and to keep possession.
The speedy, well-drilled Iraqis caused problems in the back half throughout the first 45 minutes.
The Australians' frustrations boiled over late in the half with Vince Grella and Luca Neill involved in a shoving match with an Iraqi player, with no action taken.
Australia's best chance of the half came when skipper Mark Viduka shot just wide of the left-hand post from a free-kick after 30 minutes, but it was a rare opportunity.
But Viduka bobbed up two minutes after halftime, heading home a Brett Emerton cross to equalise give his side a sniff of victory.
Iraq, with Akram dominant in midfield, then grabbed back the lead after 60 minutes.
Akram's searching ball pierced the Australian defence for Hawar to hammer home.
With Australia committing numbers forward, Iraq then added a third through Karrar to leave the Socceroos' first Asian Cup campaign on the brink.
www.theaustralian.news.com.au . . .
