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Asian champions Iraq and China draw 1-1
Asian champions Iraq, down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes, battled to a 1-1 draw with a new-look China here on Wednesday in their opening game of the qualifying campaign of the 2010 World Cup.
- Gulf News Report
- Published: 21:30 February 6, 2008
- Image Credit: Vazhisojan/Gulf News
- Iraq and China players battle for the ball during the Asian World Cup qualifier at Al Ahli Club in Dubai on Wednesday.
Dubai: Asian champions Iraq, down to 10 men for the final 20 minutes, battled to a 1-1 draw with a new-look China here on Wednesday in their opening game of the qualifying campaign of the 2010 World Cup.
After a scoreless first 45 minutes, Iraq, fielding a team based on the squad that won the Asian Cup last year, took the lead through a 50th-minute penalty from Hawar Taher.
But China, with a team rejigged by newly-installed Serb coach Vladimir Petrovic, hit back with 15 minutes of the game remaining through on-form captain Zheng Zhi, the Charlton Athletic midfielder.
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