Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Trabzon: Iraq’s adventure in the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2013 came to an end after they suffered a heart-breaking 7-6 penalty shootout loss to Uruguay in the semi-final played at the Huseyin Avni Aker Stadium on Wednesday.
Iraq were on the brink of becoming only third Asian side to book a berth in the final as they were the leading the match 1-0 till 88th minute when substitute Gonzalo Bueno cancelled out Ali Adnan’s 33rd minute strike to make it 1-1 and force the match into added extra time.
Both the sides failed to score further goals and the match went into penalty shootout. Iraq goalie Mohammed Hameed, who had a brilliant evening with strings of brilliant saves, blocked Gonzalo Rodriguez effort which was Uruguay’s first attempt but Ali Fyed and Saif Salman failed to find the target as the South Americans set up Sunday’s title clash against France. Iraq will take on Ghana who were defeated by the French 2-1 earlier in the third-place playoff match.
Compared to other matches they played in the tournament, Hakeem Shakir’s side approached the match cautiously against the South American who had dumped out title-favourites Spain from the tournament in the quarter-finals.
Uruguay’s tournament revelation Nicholas Lopez came close thrice within the first 30 minutes but wayward finishing and brilliant goalkeeping from Hameed kept Iraq in the match.
Before Adnan grabbed the lead, Ali Fyed troubled De Amores in the 20th minute from his freekick but it was Adnan who tricked the goalie 13 minutes later.
The left back, who had scored against England in Iraq’s first match of the tournament which they drew 2-2, curled the ball at the top corner of Amores’ net which landed past the diving Uruguay goalie.
Uruguay have never won the competition with their best return being the 1997 U-20 World Cup in Malaysia where they finished runners-up to Argentina. They tried their best to topple the Iraqis but Shakir’s defenders as well as goalie Hameed were in top form denying South American to stage any significant fight back until the 88th minute when substitute Bueno buried a powerful low drive after receiving header pass from fellow substitute Felipe Avinatti.
Iraq had chances of their own in the second half mainly on set-pieces and counter-attack but they failed to add anything on Adnan’s 33rd minute goal and instead allow Uruguay to stage a late come back in the match.
Photo: AFP