Iraq 2-1 Uzbekistan: Ali Adnan's late penalty gives Katanec's men victory
Katanec’s Iraq managed to come-back from a goal down to beat Uzbekistan 2-1 in Dubai with a goal from Mohanad Ali and an 85th-minute penalty from Ali Adnan to give the Lions of Mesopotamia their first victory over the Central Asian country in twenty years.
Iraq has a poor record against their opponents, with only one win in the previous nine encounters. It came in 2000 when goals from Essam Hamad and Hamza Hadi secured a 2-0 win in Shanghai in Milan Živadinović’s first game prior to the Asian Cup finals.
Forced change
Just five hours before kick-off, the Iraq FA announced team captain and goalkeeper Jalal Hassan had tested positive for COVID-19 and had been taken to hospital for further tests. The team’s assistant coach Aleš Čeh had also tested positive for COVID-19, making it seven people (5 players and 2 coaching staff) who had received positive results during Iraq’s training camp and matches.
Forced to make changes, Srečko Katanec dropped Hassan Raed and Mohammed Mizher as he made three changes with Mohammed Hamed, Ali Adnan and Maitham Jabar starting. The Slovenian switched from 4-1-4-1 to 5-4-1 (or 5-1-3-1), with the midfield anchor Amjad Atwan key to the formation.
Ali Adnan made his 75th appearance, seven short of his late uncle Ali Kadhim’s 82 matches. The Vancouver Whitecaps left back captained his country for the fourth time.
In the opening minutes, Iraq looked brighter than on Thursday against Jordan, when Katanec felt the players were playing for five minutes and then taking a five-minute break! However, it was the Uzbeks who had the best of the early chances when full-back Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldashev got down the left and crossed into the six-yard box, only to see team captain Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov fire over the bar from close range.
There was a contrast from the previous game with Jordan in the way Iraq moved the ball, especially in midfield through Amjad Atwan and Bashar Resan.
Humam Tariq, who will return to Egypt for talks with his club Al-Ismailiya after news the Egyptian club want to terminate his contract before the start of the season due to financial troubles, looked off the pace on the right side of midfield. On the other flank, Ibrahim Bayish tried his best to support Mohanad Ali at every opportunity and the Iraqi No.10, almost played in the winger but the linesmen flag went up for offside on twenty minutes.
Twenty-five minutes in, the game had settled, while Mohanad Ali was Iraq’s main threat, for Uzbekistan, there was the No.11 Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov and the No.20 Khojimat Erkinov, who impressed in the early parts of the first half. It was the lively 19-year-old whose run resulted in the opening goal
Uzbekistan had moved the ball into the Iraqi box and Erkinov tumbled after goalkeeper Mohammed Hamed had got a slight touch on the player’s trailing leg and the UAE referee pointed to the spot. Dostonbek stepped up and put it low to the left of the Iraqi keeper who got a touch on the ball but went through him to score on 39 minutes. A minute later, Erkinov played in Dostonbek and he fired from the right which Mohammed Hamed pushed over the crossbar for a corner. From the resulting kick, from Ali Adnan headed onto his own crossbar, in a frantic couple of minutes.
Just before half-time, Bashar Resan limped off after being buffeted by a couple of ill-timed challenges through the half and unable to carry on, the Persepolis midfielder was replaced by Mohammed Qasim. The Al-Shurta playmaker had moments of brilliance in the second period and with his positioning behind the team’s main striker along with his deft touch, the Najaf-born player supported the Iraqi attack well.
Second half
At the start of the second half, Katanec made two further changes, with Mustafa Mohammed and Mazin Fayadh coming on for Alaa Mahawi and Humam Tariq. While the Al-Zawraa full-back was booked and at times his defending was questionable, the winger Mazin Fayadh added to Iraq’s threat in the final third with his pace and his combination play with Mohanad ‘Mimi’ and Ibrahim Bayish.
Only six minutes in, Ibrahim Bayish’s rasping drive from outside of the box went through Uzbekistan’s keeper’s hands then a couple of minutes later Mohammed Hamed turned over Dostenbek’s left-footed shot from 20-yards.
In the 57th minute, Iraq had opened up Uzbekistan’s defence, but Mohammed Qasim’s squared ball from the left wing was too long for Mazin Fayadh in the box and the chance went astray.
Mimi’s ‘lucky’ goal
After an hour of the game, Katanec stood with his hands on his hips looking bewildered at his players, as if he was searching for answers and it came through Mohanad Ali, Iraq’s best player on the night, running past the opposition defenders and into the box. The Al-Sailiya striker hit the ball with enough venom for the ball to squirm under the hands of the Uzbek goalkeeper, reminiscent of Mohammed Hamed’s blunder in Manama.
Katanec put his hands into the air and clapped the touch of ingenuity and luck from Mimi. The lucky goal was the striker’s 15th international goal and is now in joint 15th place in the Iraqi national team’s all-time top goalscorers’ list.
Iraq seemed to have woken up, with Mohammed Qasim playing in Ali Adnan and only a last-ditch challenge from defender Islomjon Kobilov seeing the ball go out for a corner, and seconds later Maitham Jabar’s stabbed ball at goal was saved by the keeper.
At every opportunity, the Iraqi midfield with Amjad Atwan at the forefront, pressing and prodding, as they looked to Mohanad Ali, and the forward was caught offside on more than one occasion.
Captain Marvel
The winning goal came from a penalty, won by substitute Mazin Fayadh. He had latched onto a long ball from goalkeeper Mohammed Hamed, and with two defenders around him and Mohanad Ali free to his left, the winger instead turned right, and into the box, but was fouled by Rustam Ashurmatov’s rash late challenge.
Iraq’s captain Ali Adnan side-footed bis penalty and even with the keeper diving the right way, it went underneath the Uzbek keeper, as Iraq registered their first victory of 2020. The Iraqi captain celebrated with substitute Mohammed Mizher, who the whole team had rallied around after it was revealed he had faced personal attacks on social media over his appearance. Ali Adnan later handed the youngster the captaincy before the MLS-based full-back was replaced late on.
Under Katanec, Iraq has now played 30 matches and won 15 times, with 11 draws and just 4 defeats. There have been suggestions, the Lions of Mesopotamia could play in an International Tournament in Dubai next month, involving the UAE, Iceland, Russia or Congo.
There could be new additions to the squad, as rumours persist of a recall to Portuguese-based Osama Rashid while Krylya Sovetov Samara’s midfielder Safa Hadi should be back from injury and Hammarby IF's Mohanad Jeahze, who should have played a part in this month’s two friendlies, may be selected if he returns to full fitness.
Match Details
17/11/2020 The Sevens Stadium (also known as Rugby Sevens Stadium), Dubai
IRAQ 2-1 UZBEKISTAN
Mohanad Ali 63’, Ali Adnan 85’ pen; Dostonbek Khamdamov 39' pen
IRAQ: 20 Mohammed Hamed; 17 Alaa Mahawi (3 Mustafa Mohammed 46’), 6 Ali Adnan (21 Hassan Raed 90' [+2]), 4 Saad Natiq, 23 Maitham Jabar, 5 Ali Faiz; 14 Amjad Atwan, 13 Bashar Resan (19 Mohammed Qasim 45’), 11 Humam Tariq (7 Mazin Fayadh 46’), 8 Ibrahim Bayish (22 Mohammed Mizher 88’), 10 Mohanad Ali (18 Ayman Hussein 84’).
COACH: Srečko Katanec (Slovenia)
UZBEKSITAN:12 Abduvohid Nematov; 2 Islomjon Kobilov, 3 Ibrokhimkhalil Yuldashev, 5 Rustam Ashurmatov, 6 Azizjon Ganiev, 9 Abrorbek Ismoilov (14 Akmal Mozgovoy 68'), 11 Temurkhuja Abdukholiqov [c] (7 Shakhzod Ubaydullaev 84'), 13 Sanjar Kodirkulov (8 Oybek Bozorov 84'), 17 Dostonbek Khamdamov (10 Jaloliddin Masharipov 68'), 18 Lutfulla Turaev (15 Murod Kholmukhamedov 74'), 20 Khojimat Erkinov (19 Azizbek Turgunboev 74').
COACH: Vadim Abramov
Referee: Adil Ali Ahmed Khamis Al-Naqbi (UAE)
Assistant Referees: Zayed Dawood Salman Kamil (UAE) & Ahmed Saeed Ahmed Alasil Al-Rashadi (UAE)
Fourth Official: Khalid Al-Mulla (UAE)
Cautions: Ali Adnan 65', Mustafa Mohammed 67', Lutfulla Turaev 69', Islomjon Kobilov 77'.