Iraq 3 China 1
Iraq: Younis Mahmoud 23, 42; Ali Adnan 58
China: Zhang Xizhe 73
Man of the match: Younis Mahmoud
SHARJAH // On the eve of this crucial 2015 Asian Cup qualifier, Iraq coach Hakeem Shakir had claimed he was “totally confident” his team would beat China and qualify for January’s finals in Australia. His faith was not misplaced.
Iraq, third in Group C and trailing China (8) by two points going into this final round of qualifying matches, booked their spot with a commanding 3-1 win at the Sharjah Stadium last night, with veteran Younis Mahmoud contributing two goals and Ali Adnan one.
The win allowed Iraq to book their ticket to Australia as group runners-up, finishing behind Saudi Arabia with nine points, but China will not be too disappointed in defeat. They have also made it to the finals as the best third-placed team among the five qualifying groups. Their eight points from the first five matches were enough to finish ahead of Lebanon, who beat Thailand 5-2 in Bangkok, on a better goal difference.
“We are [former] champions of Asia and we wanted to qualify in a manner befitting our status, not as the best third-placed team,” said Shakir after the game, dedicating the victory and qualification to the victims of yesterday’s serial bomb blasts in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
“We believed in ourselves and our hard work, and today we have shown the whole world that Iraq is a team that plays with one heart. We are united.”
Shakir also saluted the fans and his two-goal hero Mahmoud, whose selection to the national team had been criticised.
“Mahmoud is a very good player, very tactical player,” said Shakir, whose contract as national team coach is up for renewal after this game. “He is the leader of the team and he loves Iraq. He is a true lion of Mesopotamia. He will be part of the team as long as I am the coach.
“And the fans who came out to support us today, they were our No 1 player today. They have made this possible.”
Needing a win to book their place as Group C runners-up and supported by a huge contingent of screaming fans, Iraq put China under pressure straightaway and their efforts bore fruit in the 23rd minute when Mahmoud, running clear with Adnan’s through ball, placed it past the hapless Chinese goalkeeper Yang Zhi.
The 31-year-old Iraq captain then added the second three minutes before the break, putting the ball into the back of the nets after the Chinese goalkeeper had punched away Ahmed Yasin’s volley.
Adnan, who plays for Rizespor in Turkey, made it 3-0 in the 58th minute with a brilliant finish, curling the ball into the far corner from close to the backline after being set in the clear by Yasin.
China pulled one back in the 73rd minute when Saleem Shakir’s sliding tackle on Dabao earned them a penalty. Substitute Zhang Xizhe converted from the spot and that goal helped them finish ahead of Lebanon as the best third-placed team.
China’s new coach Alain Perrin was a worried man till then as Lebanon were leading 5-1 at the time and if the scores had remained the same, they would have been on the trip to Australia with a better goal difference.
Even the penalty would not have been enough for China as Lebanon had scored more goals during the qualifying campaign. But three minutes after China’s goal, Thailand added a second and that allowed Perrin’s team to clinch their berth.
“It was a very difficult time for us because we were two goals behind [Lebanon],” said a relieved Perrin. “Within five minutes the result became positive for us and I am really happy we managed to qualify.
“That was our main target, but the coach also needs to consider what happened on the pitch and I think we did not play well in the first half. But I do appreciate the players for the effort they made to come back after going down 0-3.”
arizvi@thenational.ae
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