Iraq follows Iran into Asian Cup quarterfinals

Posted Thursday, January 20, 2011 by chinadaily.com

Iraq follows Iran into Asian Cup quarterfinals
Referee Kim Dong-jin (L) of South Korea shows the red card to United Arab Emirates' Khalid Sebil (R) following a foul on Iran's Ghasem Hadadifar (not pictured), as team mate Hamdan Al Kamali (C) looks on, during their 2011 Asian Cup Group D soccer match at Qatar Sports Club stadium in Doha Jan 19, 2011.

DOHA, Qatar - Defending champion Iraq set up an Asian Cup quarterfinal against Australia by claiming second place in its group with a 1-0 win over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Wednesday.

Iraq needed only a draw to advance but made sure of its progress with all three points thanks to Kerrar Jasim's 22nd-minute winner.

Iran had already wrapped up top spot in Group D with two wins so coach Afshin Ghotbi was able to field several reserve players against the United Arab Emirates, but his side still cantered to a 3-0 win in a game featuring a red card for each side.

Ghotbi's side will meet South Korea in Saturday's fourth quarterfinal, which follows Iraq vs Australia. DPRK, which qualified for last year's World Cup, and the UAE will head home without scoring a goal in Qatar.

It will be the fifth straight time Iran and South Korea have met in an Asian Cup quarterfinal. They have two wins each.

"I always look forward to South Korea-Iran," Ghotbi said. "Without that matchup it's not an Asian Cup. I expect a wonderful match."

Iraq's meeting with Australia is a repeat of a 2007 group match, which Iraq surprisingly won on the way to winning its first Asian Cup title.

The team's defense of that title began badly with a defeat against Iran, and Wolfgang Sidka's team relied on a last-gasp goal to beat the UAE.

However, Iraq largely controlled the match against DPRK and got the goal it deserved in the 22nd minute through Jasim after Mustafa Kareem's shot was parried by goalkeeper Ri Myung Guk.

"Our happiness is limited now, we still have a long way to go," Jasim said. "Our match against Australia will be tough.They are one of the favorites to raise the cup."

"But every game we are improving and proving that we deserve to be Asia champions."

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