Iraq completed their turnaround at the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qatar 2024 with a 2-1 win over Saudi Arabia to emerge the Group C winners yesterday.
A second consecutive win enabled Iraq to overcome an opening defeat to Thailand to finish top on six points with Saudi Arabia also advancing as the runners-up, after Thailand lost 1-0 to Tajikistan in the other game.
The 2022 champions had the ball in the net after only nine minutes but Ahmed Al Ghamdi’s spectacular strike was cancelled after a VAR check showed that Aiman Yahya had strayed just offside in the buildup.
Iraq showed they were also a threat with two great opportunities coming the way of Al Hamawi, who could not keep his shot down after he was set up by Nihat Mohammed, while influential winger Ali Jasim worked his way into the box but shot straight at Saleem Alabsi.
Chasing the win necessary to reach the next stage, Iraq continued to be on the offensive and were awarded a penalty late in the first half after Mustafa Saadoon was brought down by Alabsi with Jasim taking responsibility and converting in the first minute of added time.
Saudi Arabia were given a way back into the match in the 10th minute of added time after referee Hiroyuki Kimura - after a VAR review - awarded them a penalty following Saadoon’s elbow on Haitham Asiri, with Al Ghamdi sending the ball home to send the teams level into the break.
The first chance of the second half was created by Saudi Arabia when Saad Alnasser was put through on the left and his cross found Ziyad Aljohani at the edge of the box, however, the Al Ahli midfielder flashed his shot wide.
Having survived a nervy start to the half, Iraq retook the lead in the 63rd minute after Alabsi failed to clear the ball cleanly, allowing Saadoon to nip in with the ball bouncing off his chest and into the net from Alnasser’s clearance.
Saudi Arabia pushed for their second equaliser of the night and nearly found it in the 70th minute, Marwan Al Sahafi producing a clever looping header with the back of his head that had custodian Hussein Hasan backtracking to pluck the ball at the last minute as Iraq safely saw out the remainder of the tie.
Meanwhile, a gritty performance from China saw them end their campaign on a winning note by defeating the UAE 2-1.
The victory was only the East Asians’ second ever win in tournament victory and saw them finish third in Group B ahead of their opponents, with both already eliminated prior to kick-off.
Having each failed to score in their preceding two matches, China and UAE were looking to salvage some pride and it was the latter who threatened first in the seventh minute. Fahad Bader romped down the left and put in a low cross that was turned into his own goal by Jia Feifan, only for VAR to rule that the winger had been offside when receiving the ball.
That was the best moment of the half for the West Asians, who came under the cosh from a determined China side that broke the deadlock in the 24th minute. Harib Abdalla’s half-hearted headed clearance from Tao Qianglong’s cross saw the ball fall to Xie Wenneng near the penalty spot, and the 23-year-old promptly volleyed it into the left bottom corner.
It was China’s first goal in six AFC U23 Asian Cup matches, with the last time they found the back of the net coming in a 3-0 win against Oman in 2018.
The UAE were granted a second reprieve in the 41st minute when referee Hussein Abo Yehia overturned a penalty award following a VAR review, but it lasted just nine minutes. A blind pass from Sultan Ali was intercepted by Liu Zhurun, who shrugged off Zayed Sultan and advanced into the area to drill a low finish past goalkeeper Khaled Tawhid.
Seeking a response, Marcelo Broli made three changes after the restart and reaped near-immediate dividends. Three minutes into the second half, Ahmed Fawzi masterfully brought Abdulla Almenhali’s piercing diagonal pass under control before calmly sliding the ball past the onrushing goalkeeper Li Hao. It was just the second shot on target registered by the UAE throughout the tournament.