IRAQ 1-0 VIETNAM

Tehran: Iraq progressed to the third round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and advanced to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup after toiling to a 1-0 triumph over Vietnam on Tuesday evening.

Mohanad Abdulraheem Karrar was the hero for the Iraqis as he grabbed the only goal of the game just before the break to hand his team the win at the neutral venue of the PAS Ghavamin Stadium in Tehran.

Although they still finished second in Group F of the World Cup/Asian Cup joint-qualifiers, Iraq ended the campaign ranked first in the standings of runners-up, with the top four following the group winners through.

Having spurned their chance to keep alive their hopes of winning Group F after last Thursday’s 2-2 draw against Thailand, the Lions of Mesopotamia started the clash with Vietnam looking very much like a side eager to make amends.

They were dealt a blow in the 20th minute when striker Alaa Abdulzehra had to be replaced, after ten minutes of treatment was unable to mend a nasty gash above his left eye.

In his place came on Mohanad and, right on the stroke of halftime, the decision to bring him on proved an inspired choice by Iraq coach Abdul Ghani Shahad.

Having done well to out-jump opposition keeper Tran Nguyen Manh only to see his header come back off the bar, the 22-year-old reacted quickest to follow up and got enough on his shot to put it into the far corner and hand them his side the lead.

Iraq carried on in the same vein in the second half and it looked only a matter of time before they added a second as the Vietnamese struggled to find any sort of rhythm.

In particular, Ali Adnan was a constant threat from his set-piece deliveries, as well as his direct running which tormented Tran Dinh Hoang and his fellow defenders.

Nonetheless, despite their concerted efforts, the Iraqis were just unable net another goal which would have made things a lot more comfortable, although – the fact that Vietnam failed to pose any sort of legitimate threat in the end – ensured they were able to go on and claim the victory.