Iraq wasted no time in setting the tempo early on with Youssef Amyn forcing Oman keeper Ibrahim Al Mukhaini into a save before Aymen Hussein flashed his header from inside the area wide.

Oman remained content to absorb the pressure as Iraq pushed forward, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 13th minute when Hussein rose highest to head home Ali Jasim’s corner in stunning fashion.

The visitors sprung into action in the 24th minute with Abdulrahman Al Mushaifri missing his headed attempt from inside the box before Issam Al Sabhi forced Iraq keeper Jalal Hassan into action moments later.

Al Saadi wasted another attempt for Oman in the 25th minute after shooting his effort from distance over the bar following  Al Busaidi’s headed pass, while Jameel Al Yahmadi had his attempt saved from inside the six-yard-box two minutes later.

Iraq almost doubled their lead in the 39th minute after Ibrahim Bayesh threaded a well-timed through pass to Hussein, who dribbled past his markers but did not have enough power in his shot to beat the imposing Al Mukhaini.

Hussein came close again in the closing stages when he pulled his effort wide on the turn from just inside the box, while Ahmed Al Khamisi couldn’t find the target from a set-piece situation as he headed over the bar.

Oman kept Hassan busy in the second half with the shotstopper keeping out All Mushaifri's long range effort in the 49th minute before foiling Al Yahmadi a minute later.

Despite the introduction of Zahir Al Aghbari, Muhsen Al Ghassani and Khalid Al Braiki, Oman struggled to create clear cut chances with Hassan pulling off a fine save to repel Abdullah Fawaz’s effort from distance in the 88th minute.

Oman suffered more woes in the fifth minute of added time as Arshad Said Al Alawi was sent off after picking up a second yellow card as Iraq held on for the points.