Football: Iraq beat Singapore in qualifier

SINGAPORE: Iraq beat Singapore 2-0 in their World Cup qualifier but wasted several chances during the game. The visitors pressured the Singapore goal from the starting whistle but wayward finishing and determined defending kept the scoreline level at half-time. Iraq’s persistence finally paid off in the 49th minute when forward Ala’a Abdulzehra put them ahead, and the result was sealed in the 85th minute after a chip by Iraqi striker Younus Mahmood sailed into the goal.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 7^th, 2011.