Home team embarrassed by seven-star IraqTuesday, October 23, 2007
LAHORE: Mahdi Jaleel scored a hat-trick as Iraq, the Asian champions, hammered Pakistan 7-0 in a World Cup football qualifier here on Monday.

The match at the Punjab Stadium was the eighth football tie between Pakistan and Iraq in their history. The last meeting, the seventh, between the two countries was almost ten years ago.

The tie, which saw around 500-600 spectators at the start of match, will see the return leg being played on October 28 in Aleppo, Syria. Iraq will not host the home tie because of uncertain political conditions there.

Iraq got off to a flying start and had a chance to get on the scoresheet as early as in 4th minute but failed to capitalise after earning a corner. They piled on the pressure again in the 6th, after being awarded a free kick in the Pakistan penalty area, but failed to take advantage.

But they didn’t gave away the ball possession and kept on the pressure which finally paid off in the 17th minute when Nashat Akram combined with his teammates to finish a nice move leaving Pakistan goalie Shahzad helpless in the goal.

And it went from bad to worst for Pakistan as the Asian champions doubled their tally in the 24th minute through Mahdi Karim, who was fouled earlier by midfielder Zesh Rehman.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Essa, though, tried to pull one back immediately by Iraq goalie Noor Sabri Hassan stopped his effort handsomely. Iraq almost made it 3-0 in the 30th minute but their effort was ruled offside.

Pakistan were then awarded a freekick just outside Iraq’s penalty box in the 39th minute but failed to put their opponents under pressure from that effort. Adnan showed a workman like performance for Pakistan but Iraq defence proved too good for him on many occasions. At half-time, the score remained 2-0 in Iraq’s favour.

The second half started just as the first half had finished — one way traffic i.e. Iraq capitalised on Pakistan’s poor defence again and scored the third in the 50th minute, this time Mahdi Jaleel coming onto the scoresheet for his time. Zesh again defended poorly to concede the goal.

Abbas Ali, alongwith Essa, started a fightback for Pakistan and dominated proceedings for a few minutes. But Iraq didn’t let them take full control of the game and put on a fight back of their own.

Pakistan then displayed poor football when at times their throws-in didn’t even reach their teammates. Yasir Sabir then came onto the field substituting Tanveer Ahmed much to the surprise of the crowd.

In the 68th minute, Pakistan changed their strategy and moved Zesh forward in the field from his defensive position. But it didn’t matter much for Iraq as they scored another goal in 69th minute. Al Hamd, this time, scored with a header. And he was once again the culprit when Iraq scored their fifth when Emad Ridha capitalised on Pakistan’s poor defence.

And Iraq provided more misery for Pakistan as Mahdi Jaleel scored two more goals for his side — in the 87th and 88th minutes — completing his hat-trick as well.

Pakistan: Muhammad Shahzad (goalkeeper), Tanveer Ahmad, Zesh Rehman, Naveed Akram, Samar Ishaq, Abbas Ali, Farooq Shah, Muhammad Essa, Adeel Ahmed, Adnan Farooq Ahmed, Amjad Iqbal.

Iraq: Noor Sabri Hassan (goalkeeper), Jasim Mohammed Al Hamd, Basem Abbas Gatea, Khaldoun Mohammad, Nashat Akram Ali, Qusai Munir, J Karrar, Ali A Rehema, Ahmed Manajid, Ahmed Salah, Mahdi Karim.

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