Iraq beat Saudi Arabia to win Group
Dhaka, November 2: Forward Mohammed Jabbar scored a brace helping Iraq post a 3-2 victory over Saudi Arabia in the group A of the AFC U-19 qualifiers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium on Wednesday.
With the win Iraq won the group with 12 points winning all the four matches while Saudi Arabia tasted their first defeat in the four matches.
Iraqi forward Mohammed Jabbar put his team ahead in the 9th minute after his attacking partner Hayder Abdul Kareem Darwaish paved the way for him with a square pass from the left flank of the box and Jabbar slotted home with an angular placing shot (1-0).
Saudi Arabian hitman Saleh al Shehri equalized in the 15th minute heading home a right flank cross of midfielder Omar from the middle of the box (1-1). It thus became the seventh goal of the Saudi forward in the group.
Iraq went up ahead again in the 36th minute as Saudi defender Al Nakhli in his attempt to clear a long ball handled it at the top of the six yard prompting Bahraini referee Jameel Juma Abdulhusian to award a penalty and midfielder Durgham Ismael Dawood converted it from the spot (2-1).
Saudi Arabia piled the pressure on and defender Absi hit the equalizer in a spectacular way in the added time of the first half. The tall defender dived to his right to head an Al Muwallad corner that beat Iraqi goalie Saqr Ajail Salih in the far post.
Mohammed Jabbar netted the winner in the 71st minute after Hayder Abdul Kareem Darwaish curved a corner form the right hand flag and Jabber headed the ball into the near post(3-2).