The Hindu : Sport : Iraq nails a sorry Australia

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 14, 2007
ePaper

Sport

Sport

Iraq nails a sorry Australia

Pre-tournament favourite on the verge of early exit

BANGKOK: Australia was booed off the field with its Asian Cup hopes in tatters after a disastrous 3-1 defeat to Iraq here on Friday.

The Socceroos fell behind after a 22nd-minute goalkeeping clanger by Mark Schwarzer, only to equalise through Mark Viduka but they were badly exposed defensively again for the Iraqis to wrap it up with two more goals.

The bumbling loss heaps further pressure on under-fire coach Graham Arnold, with chants of “Arnold out” from the travelling Australian fans.

Sharing the lead

Iraq now shares the lead in Group A with Thailand, with the pair favourites to go into the quarterfinals after Monday’s final pool games.

The Thais need only a point against Australia, while Iraq also only require a draw against Gulf rivals Oman to move into the last eight. Australia, which again struggled for any semblance of the form it showed at last year’s World Cup, must beat the Thais to stand any chance of going through.

It was another night of humiliation for the one-time tournament favourite which needed a Tim Cahill stoppage-time goal to salvage a draw with Oman last Sunday.

Badly misjudged

Schwarzer badly misjudged a lofted long-range free kick from midfielder Nashat Akram midway through the opening half with calamitous results.

The Middlesbrough goalkeeper stayed on his line and was deceived by the flight and the close attention of Salih Sadir for the ball to sail past him into the net to give the Iraqis the crucial opening goal in stifling heat.

It was just the spur the Iraqis needed and it was like a hammer blow for the Australians, who spoke before the match of the importance of scoring the first goal.

The Socceroos offered little in attack in the opening 45 minutes with lone striker Viduka held in check and only coming close to scoring with a sizzling free kick in the 31st minute.

Yellow cards

Frustrations boiled over in the trying conditions with the Australians receiving three yellow cards — midfielder Jason Culina, defender Lucas Neill and midfielder Vince Grella in the opening term.

Grella may have been fortunate not to receive a second yellow when he appeared to push Younis Mahmoud to the ground, angered by what he perceived as the Iraqi skipper taking a dive.

Cahill came on for Brett Holman straight after half-time and his presence galvanised the Australians and they equalised two minutes after the break with Brett Emerton’s cross nodded home by Viduka for his ninth international goal.

But Iraq caught out the loose Australian defence again with Nashat’s precise angled pass finding Hawar Mulla unmarked in the centre and he gave Schwarzer no chance to put his team 2-1 up on the hour.

Substitute Karrar Jassim rubbed salt into Australia’s wounds when he seized on Schwarzer’s half-save off Mahdi Karim with four minutes left to kill off the Australians.

“It’s very disappointing,” Arnold said.

The results: Group A (at Bangkok): Iraq 3 (Nashat Akram 23, Hawar Mulla Mohammed 60, Mohammed Karrar 86) bt Australia 1 (Mark Viduka 47). - Agencies.