|
Iraq upset China 2-1 in Asian Cup qualifier
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-03-02 09:10
TOKYO, March 1 (Reuters) - Iraq upset China 2-1 in neutral United Arab
Emirates on Wednesday to throw their 2007 Asian Cup qualifying group wide open.
China's soccer team
players leave the pitch after their loss against Iraq at the Asian Cup
2007 qualifying match at the Khalifa Bin Zayed stadium in Al Ain, United
Arab Emirates March 1, 2006. [Reuters] | Bassim
Abbas's 67th-minute free kick settled the Group E clash in Al Ain and helped
ease the pain of last week's shock 2-0 defeat in Singapore.
China's coach Zhu Guanghu had promised before the match that there was "no
way" his side could lose, but Mahdi Karim gave Iraq the lead after 15 minutes.
China struck back through midfielder Tao Wei early in the second half before
Abbas smashed a 25-metre free kick in off the crossbar to stun the Chinese.
The defeat followed China's 2-0 victory over Palestine in their opening match
and is set to cause more soul-searching after their failure to qualify for this
year's World Cup.
Palestine beat Singapore 1-0 in Jordan to leave all four teams in the group
tied on three points after two rounds.
Yemen also pulled off a surprise 3-0 victory in India for their first points
in Group A.
India were thrashed 6-0 by Asian Cup holders Japan in Yokohama in their
opening match last week and were punished for another poor defensive display
against Yemen.
A Zyad Chabbo double helped Syria to a 4-0 victory over Taiwan in Group B,
giving the visitors a boost after last week's 2-1 defeat away to South Korea.
Qatar recovered after conceding an own goal to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 and
maintain their perfect start to Group F. Hong Kong posted their first points in
the group with a 1-0 win over Bangladesh in Dhaka courtesy of an 82nd- minute
goal from substitute Chan Siu Ki.
United Arab Emirates also made it two from two with a 4-1 drubbing of
Pakistan to top Group C while Oman beat Jordan 3-0 in the same group.
Kuwait held Bahrain to a scoreless draw, leaving Australia on top of Group D
with a game in hand.
|
