Iraq advance to revive horror Socceroo memories
Injury-hit Australia will get the chance to gain revenge for their shock 2007 Asian Cup loss to Iraq when they face the defending champions in a quarter-final at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha on Sunday morning (AEST).
A first-half goal by Kerrar Jasim was the difference between the two teams in a scrappy match when Iraq took on North Korea earlier today in the Al Rayyan Stadium in the final match of Pool D.
The win means the Iraqis finish second behind Iran in the group and play the Group C winners, the Socceroos, in a repeat of their pool game in Thailand four years ago. Then, the Iraqis stunned Australia 3-1 with goals by Nashat Akram, Hawar Mohammed ad Jasim, all three of whom are in their current squad, and went on to beat Saudi Arabia in the final.
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Iraq rarely looked in trouble in this game and knew that a draw would be enough for them to finish second in the group behind Iran.
German coach Wolfgang Sidka left out a handful of key players (notably Hawar and his other first-choice winger Emad Mohammed) but the Iraqis still had too much class for the ultra-defensive North Koreans, who failed to score a goal in their three Asian Cup matches.
Samal Saeed almost made an early breakthrough for the Middle Eastern team when his header from a corner cannoned off the crossbar. Shortly after Iraq got the goal that left North Korea - who needed to win this match to have any hope of going through - with a mountain to climb.
Ri Myong Guk in the Korean goal blocked Mustafa Kareem's shot and Jasim reacted quickest to smash home the rebound.
Kareem had a great opportunity to double the advantage soon after when he was fed by a beautiful cross from Akram but he could only volley over the bar.
Korean front man Tae Se Jong had a chance to get his side level with 15 minutes to play but Iraq keeper Mohammed Kassid dealt with his shot quite comfortably.
Australia expect Tim Cahill, who came off injured in the win against Bahrain, and David Carney and Luke Wilkshire, both of whom missed that game, to be available for the quarter-final. Jason Culina is being monitored daily to gauge his fitness.
* Iran became the only team in the tournament to gain maximum points in the group stage when they beat UAE 3-0 in the other game. They also beat Iraq 2-1 and North Korea 1-0. The will play South Korea in the quarter-finals.
