Zidane Iqbal earns Iraq 1-0 win over Indonesia in World Cup qualifier
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Indonesia's Maarten Paes in action with Iraq's Munaf Younus.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
JEDDAH – Iraq coach Graham Arnold is ready for an “Asian final” as his side prepare to take on Saudi Arabia on Oct 14 in a crucial World Cup fourth-round qualifier.
The Iraqis sealed a 1-0 victory over Indonesia in Jeddah on Oct 11 to maintain their hopes of a first World Cup appearance since 1986, as Zidane Iqbal’s second-half strike eliminated Patrick Kluivert’s side from Asia’s qualifiers for the 2026 Finals.
Former Manchester United midfielder Iqbal, who currently plays his club football for Dutch outfit Utrecht, netted in the 76th minute, after coming off the bench at the start of the second half.
The result means Iraq will face Saudi Arabia, with the winners of the tie qualifying for the World Cup while the runners-up advance to another round of preliminaries. Indonesia have been eliminated after two losses.
“We knew it would be a tough game with the temperature and everything, but this 1-0 victory will give us a lot of confidence,” said Iqbal. “It will be a tough game against Saudi Arabia. Qualifying for the World Cup is the dream of the nation and the players. I have full trust in the coach and my teammates”
Arnold added: “The game against Saudi Arabia will be completely different, both in performance and in the players we use. We rested key players, so they’ll be 100 per cent ready for what will feel like an Asian final.”
A mistake by Rizky Ridho cost the Indonesians, as the defender gifted Iraq possession and the ball eventually ended up at the feet of Iqbal, who slotted a perfect finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area.
Tempers flared as the final whistle approached, with Indonesia captain Jay Idzes acting as peacemaker when his side’s fans pelted the pitch with water bottles in disgust at a disputed decision by referee Ma Ning from China.
Zaid Tahseen was sent off for a second bookable offence nine minutes into stoppage time, but Iraq held on to maintain their hopes of joining Japan, South Korea, Australia, Iran, Uzbekistan and Jordan as Asia’s representatives at the 2026 Finals in North America.
“We were the better team throughout the match and I’m very frustrated with the result,” said Kluivert. “I think the whole country, the players and the staff feel the same frustration.”
Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates struck late goals through Marcus Meloni and Caio Lucas to earn a 2-1 win over Oman in Doha, as Cosmin Olaroiu’s side battled back to keep their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup alive.
Lucas hit the fortuitous winner seven minutes from time, after Meloni scored with a 76th-minute header to cancel out an own goal by Kouame Kouadio that gave Oman a 12th-minute lead.
The win moves the UAE to the cusp of their first appearance at the World Cup since 1990, with Olaroiu’s team needing only a draw away to Qatar on Oct 14 to progress as winners of Group A in the fourth phase of Asia’s preliminaries.
REUTERS
