Tue, 30 Nov, -0001
Manama: Iraq secured a place in the final of the ongoing Gulf Cup 2013 after a dramatic 4-2 penalty shootout win over hosts Bahrain on Tuesday.
Bahrain’s Mohammed Husain and Adbulwahab Al Malood missed their penalties while apart from Ahmed Yasin all other Iraqi players converted from the spot to set up title clash against the UAE who edged Kuwait 1-0 in another semi-final of the day.
The AFC Asian Cup 2007 champions, who have not dropped points so far in the tournament, started the match in promising fashion in front of the capacity crowd of the Bahrain National Stadium after Younis Mohammed put them 1-0 up in the 18th minute.
The host country, bidding for their first regional glory, hit back in the match with Husain Ali Baba’s strike in the 63rd minute but both the sides failed to score the decisive goal forcing the match into the penalty shootout.
The Hakim Shakir’s side who are drawn against three-time Asian champions Saudi Arabia, China and Indonesia in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifiers, will take on Indonesia on 6 February 2013.
Bahrain, who will take on Kuwait in the third-place playoff match on Friday, have West Asian neighbours Qatar and Yemen in Group D alongside with Malaysia. They play their first match against Yemen while Malaysia travel to Doha to face the AFC Asian Cup 2011 hosts on 6 February 2013.