Australia beat Iraq at last Minute

Qatar,January,23-2011:After a last minute of extra time Kewell score goal from heading with comfort to kick out defending champion Iraq from Cup.Harry Kewell fired Australia into the semi-finals of the Asian Cup with a header deep into extra-time to see off Iraq.
Kewell met Matt McKay’s deep cross from the left with four minutes remaining and directed a header past Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid to set up a last-four meeting with Uzbekistan.
A dour first-half proved short on chances, McKay scooping the ball over the bar after latching onto Samal Saeed’s poor defensive header the only notable action in the opening 40 minutes.
Australia then spurned two presentable opportunities before the interval.
First, a neat through-ball allowed McKay a clear sight of goal but the midfielder disappointingly shot straight at Mohammed Kassid before Kewell outmuscled Ali Erhaima as they contested Luke Wilkshire’s delivery from deep but his lob was too high with the Iraq keeper rushing out to close him down.
Iraq then spurned the best opportunity of the game nine minutes after the break when Younus Mahmood threaded a fine ball into the path of Emad Mohammed and the midfielder fired across Mark Schwarzer but beyond the far post.
Sasa Ognenovski could only divert Lucas Neill’s header from McKay’s corner straight at Kassid, who pushed Brett Holman’s drive from distance with 10 minutes to go.
Schwarzer then had to be alert to hold substitute Mustafa Kareem’s header low down to his right as 90 minutes failed to produce a goal.
Ognenovski almost broke the deadlock seven minutes into the first additional period but his acrobatic overhead kick from a corner that was destined for the back of the net was inexplicably headed over the bar by Mile Jedinak from close range.
That miss did not prove costly, however, as with the game seemingly headed for penalties, Kewell timed his run in between two Iraq defenders to perfection and got on the end of McKay’s delivery to head Australia into the last four.

source:espnstar.com

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