Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Brasilia: Iraq are one win away from the Men's Olympic Football Tournament quarter-finals after a gallant defensive performance kept hosts Brazil scoreless for the second time in four days in Brasilia.
Brazil – boasting the likes of Neymar and dual 19-year-old stars Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa - huffed and puffed, but were unable to breach a disciplined and courageous Iraqi defence.
Beijing Guoan midfielder Renato Augusto hit the crossbar, then missed an open goal in the dying moments as Brazil’s Olympic goal drought stretched to over 180 minutes of football.
The result means a win against South Africa in Sao Paulo on Wednesday night (local time) will seal Iraq’s progression from a wide-open Group A.
Rio 2016 Men's Tournament: Results, Fixtures, Standings
Iraq, who had started the tournament confidently in their opening day 0-0 draw with Denmark, approached their second match with an air of caution.
Creative players such as Humam Tariq and Ali Hosni were left out of the starting eleven as coach Abdulghani Shahid opted for a more defensive, counter-attacking approach against the pre-tournament favourites.
The tactics almost paid early dividends when Ali Adnan’s burst forward led to a corner after ten minutes.
While that set-piece was easily cleared, Iraq nearly took the lead when Mohanad Abdulraheem’s looping header hit the post after Dhrugham Ismail’s long throw.
Despite Iraq announcing their counter-attacking threat, Brazil started to take control of the match in the latter part of the first period, keeping the Lions of Mesopotamia camped largely in their own half.
Neymar, Zeka and Gabriel Jesus all had chances to score within five minutes of each other, before Renato Augusto rattled the crossbar on the stroke of half-time, but the teams went into the break both still looking for their first goal at Rio 2016.
After the break, Brazil picked up from where they left off, enjoying the majority of possession and creating a number of chances without ever really testing Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Hameed.
Iraq gifted a chance to Luan – who replaced the wasteful Gabriel Jesus at half time – when they relinquished possession in their own half, but the Gremio forward struck his shot directly at Hameed from 20 yards.
Brazil’s possession and territorial dominance continued, interrupted only by another marauding run from Udinese star Adnan, but Iraq refused to wilt.
With Barcelona star Neymar becoming an increasingly inconspicuous and frustrated figure, the best chance of the match fell to China-based Renato Augusto.
Deep into stoppage time, substitute William found space on the right side of the Iraqi penalty area and squared the ball for the 28-year-old, only to see him lob the ball over the open goal with goalkeeper Hameed stranded.
Despite seven minutes of added time, that was as close as Brazil came as Iraq salvaged a crucial point to remain undefeated and well in contention for the knockout stage.
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