REVENGE AT LAST
Schwarzer saves day, Kewell clinical
By Julius Ross
The Socceroos inflicted further pain on the Iraqi Football Federation on Sunday night, as the 2007 Asian Cup winners slumped to a 1-0 loss in Brisbane.
The defeat left Iraq cemented to the bottom of Group 1 in the third round of Asian Football Confederation World Cup Qualifiers, and allowed Australia to gain revenge for a 3-1 humiliation at the hands of the Iraqis last year.
Only seven days prior to the scheduled match at Suncorp Stadium, FIFA had provisionally suspended Iraq from international competition, due to political interference from the Iraqi government, which had left the match in jeopardy.
The government’s decision to disband the country’s national sports federation had left FIFA will no option but to suspend the side, however, world football’s governing body decided to reverse this decision only three days later.
It meant that the highly anticipated Group 1 clash was given the go-ahead, but the end result was one which imposed additional damage on the Iraq Football Federation, after a tumultuous week of proceedings.
In contrast, the Socceroos could not be in a more satisfying position after three matches.
Sitting comfortably on top of their World Cup Qualifying group, currently six points clear of Iraq, Australia look likely to progress to the final stage of Asian qualification.
A sensational Harry Kewell header was the difference between the sides on Sunday; however, the Socceroos were lucky to escape with all three points, despite dominating 62% of possession.
Iraq created enough chances to have bagged a handful of goals, but a rock-solid Mark Schwarzer and the goal-frame prevented the Iraqis from striking the back of the Australian net.
In a high tempo start, Iraq piled the pressure on the Aussie backline and within four minutes they were a whisker away from opening the scoring.
A fiercely struck corner was only parried by Schwarzer as far as Iraqi midfielder Emad Mohammed, whose first-time effort struck the underside of the woodwork.
Mohammed then produced the best of Schwarzer’s reflex actions; the No. 7’s close range shot forced the Aussie stalwart into a fine block with his trailing leg on 27 minutes after poor defending by Michael Beauchamp.
Without high-profile stars such as Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka and Lucas Neill, the likes of Vince Grella, Jason Culina and Marco Bresciano stepped up to control the midfield for the majority of the match against their Asian opponents, with Kewell running rampant up front.
However, the absence of Neill at the back created a few nervous moments for the Socceroos.
But the Lions of Mesopotamia, as they are affectionately known by their supporters, failed to punish the several openings which emerged from the unsettled partnership of Jade North and Beauchamp at the centre of defence.
The two defenders had to thank Schwarzer on numerous occasions for their defensive lapses.
On 36 minutes, North let his man, Younis Mahmoud, free at the near post, but luckily for the Newcastle Jets defender, the Iraqi captain sent his poorly directed header wide.
There were few of the much publicised ‘Iraqi diving antics’ on display, despite both sides tackling hard and showing no love lost in the intriguing encounter.
Australia continued their domination of possession in the second half, and within two minutes they took the lead through Aussie hero Kewell.
A pinpoint Brett Emerton cross from the right met the well-timed jump of the Socceroo No. 10, who buried clinically into the bottom corner of the Iraq net with a powerful header.
The Socceroos continued to dominate the remaining periods of the match, but had to again thank veteran ‘keeper Schwarzer who produced a top class one-on-one save from Hawar Taher after a quick Iraqi counter-attack on 82 minutes.
After a brief stoppage of play, due to two pitch invaders, the Iraqis finished the stronger and more aggressive side, continuously troubling the Australians.
But the Socceroos held on to the final whistle, to confirm that there would be no repeat of their humiliating 3-1 loss at the hands of the Iraqis in last year’s Asian Cup.
Australia’s other Group 1 opponents, China and Qatar, face off on Monday but even a win by second-placed Qatar cannot topple the Socceroos from their current spot on top of the group.
Pim Verbeek’s side play their return World Cup Qualifying match against Iraq in Dubai next Saturday, where the weather may provide a harsh test for the Socceroos, with temperatures expected to be in the high 30s.
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