Adam Bailey
DeanoHarmoAsian Cup - Australia Casualties of Iraqi Resurgence
July 13th 2007 22:51
Category: No Category
Australia's Asian Cup campaign is in disarray after a disastrous 3-1 defeat at the hands of Iraq at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok. Thailand's victory over Oman made this match a must-win for both sides, and Iraq's Nashat Akram opened the scoring with a long-range shot that Australian keeper Mark Schwarzer was far too slow to defend.
Australia looked slow and disinterested in the first half, but came out fired up after the interval. Just 2 minutes had passed before Mark Viduka equalised, pouncing on a cross from Brett Emerton. But that was just a temporary interruption to the Iraqi momentum; with the middle-easterners again going ahead on the hour and a late winner putting the icing on the cake. To compound a miserable night for the Socceroos, Lucas Neill was sent off after a second yellow for backchat.
The result propels Iraq to the top of Group A and ensures they progress through to the quarter-finals. Australia will need to defeat Thailand 2-0 on Monday night to go through.
In the other game, Japan's Naohiro Takahara scored a double to give Japan a 3-1 win over the United Arab Emirates and ensure their progression to the quarter-finals.
Iraq 3 (N Akram 23, H Mohammed 60, K Jassim 86) d Australia 1 (Mark Viduka 47).
Japan 3 (Naohiro Takahara 32 38, Shunsuke Nakamura 33 pen) d United Arab Emirates 1 (Saeed Alkas 66)
Group A Standings - Iraq 4 ( 2), Thailand 4 ( 2), Australia 1 (-2), Oman 1 (-2).
Group B Standings - Japan 4 ( 2), Vietnam 4 ( 2), Qatar 2 (0), UAE 0 (-4).
Pic from AFCAsianCup.com
Australia looked slow and disinterested in the first half, but came out fired up after the interval. Just 2 minutes had passed before Mark Viduka equalised, pouncing on a cross from Brett Emerton. But that was just a temporary interruption to the Iraqi momentum; with the middle-easterners again going ahead on the hour and a late winner putting the icing on the cake. To compound a miserable night for the Socceroos, Lucas Neill was sent off after a second yellow for backchat.
Celebration time for Iraq, but soul-searching for the Socceroos
In the other game, Japan's Naohiro Takahara scored a double to give Japan a 3-1 win over the United Arab Emirates and ensure their progression to the quarter-finals.
Iraq 3 (N Akram 23, H Mohammed 60, K Jassim 86) d Australia 1 (Mark Viduka 47).
Japan 3 (Naohiro Takahara 32 38, Shunsuke Nakamura 33 pen) d United Arab Emirates 1 (Saeed Alkas 66)
Group A Standings - Iraq 4 ( 2), Thailand 4 ( 2), Australia 1 (-2), Oman 1 (-2).
Group B Standings - Japan 4 ( 2), Vietnam 4 ( 2), Qatar 2 (0), UAE 0 (-4).
Pic from AFCAsianCup.com
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