Iraq beats Portugal in olympic soccer match

[shockwave203 Profile]

Iraq overcomes own goal, stuns Portugal in first-round of Olympics

Posted: Thursday August 12, 2004 5:01PM; Updated: Thursday August 12, 2004 5:54PM



Salih Sadir (No. 6) is mobbed by his Iraqi teammates after sealing the win over Portugal with a score in injury time.



PATRAS, Greece (AP) -- In its first Olympic competition since its country was shattered by war, Iraq upset star-studded Portugal 4-2 on Thursday in a gritty, come-from-behind victory as about 200 chanting fans cheered and jumped wildly.

"This victory will be received with happiness by my people, who have suffered through much," said Iraqi coach Adnan Hamad, whose countrymen were already taking to the streets of back in Baghdad, lighting up the night sky with streaks of celebratory gunfire.

The stunning victory over a team that made it to final of the recent Euro 2004 tournament brought a rare moment of joy for residents of a country plagued by violence, chaos and constant power outages during the hot summer.

Iraqis across the country watched it in their homes and at cafes. Even people at a Baghdad barbershop took time out of their late night haircuts to celebrate the goals.

"It's very important for us to have won this first game," player Abdul Wahab said after the game. "We hope to give more satisfaction to our people who need happiness."

Things did not go well early for the Iraqis, who handed the first goal to Portugal in the 13th minute when defender Haidar Jabar accidentally kicked the ball into his own net as he tried to clear a pass by Cristiano Ronaldo. Three minutes later, however, striker Emad Mohammed tied the game after picking up a rebound from the goalkeeper, Moreira.

Iraq went ahead 2-1 in the 29th minute when Hawar Mulla Mohammed scored on a soft shot after dribbling past the goalkeeper, but Portugal tied it with a minute to go in the first half on a goal by Bosingwa.

Younis Mahmoud put Iraq ahead 3-2 in the 56th minute, and Salih Sadir scored during injury time to seal the victory.

The Iraq fans, mostly students who traveled to Pampeloponnisiako Stadium from various Greek cities, chanted and jumped in unison. Some waved Iraqi flags and signs in Arabic as unarmed police watched.

At the end of the match, the jubilant Iraqi players ran across the field holding their raised hands above their heads.

Portugal ended the match with 10 men after Boa Morte was ejected for rough play. As the Portuguese player left the field, he was showered with dozens of plastic bottles by Iraqi fans.

Iraq was a surprise addition to the Olympic tournament. The nation managed to cobble together a team amid ongoing conflict at home and efforts to rebuild an Olympic committee that was previously run by Saddam Hussein's late son, Odai, who allegedly ordered the torture of players who fell out of favor.

In May, Iraq clinched an Olympic soccer berth just three months after being reinstated by the International Olympic Committee. Two months later, the team's German coach, Bernd Stange, resigned, claiming authorities advised him to leave for his safety.

He was replaced by his assistant, Adnan Hamad, who coached Iraq's national soccer team to victory in the West Asian Championship in 2002 and played on the national team during the early 1980s.

In July, Iraq reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup that included a 2-1 win over regional soccer power Saudi Arabia.

Portugal, which had Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Boa Morte and Hugo Viana on the lineup, is trying to make up for losing to upstart Greece in the final of Euro 2004, which it hosted.

Now it has to beat Group D rivals Costa Rica and Morocco, who tied 0-0 to reach the quarterfinal.



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/olympics/2004/soccer/08/12/iraq.portugal.ap/index.html?cnn=yes

[Pierce Profile]

This is truely an uplifting story.

They would not have won this game under Saddam's regime in my opinion.

[Agent-Commando]

Well, this is a great story and victory, I hope it's able to bring a light of hope for the Iraqi people on the world stage.

[Sewer-Urchin]

It's amazing how much better they can play now that they know losing doesn't mean being flogged, thrown in sewage or getting burninated. I hope they do well

[Mutant Enemy]

I hope there isn't too much Anti-Americanism at the Olympics this year, but I think there will be. There were people jeering Lance Armstrong during the Tour de France.

[oxy]

What would happen if the US crushed Iraq in a gold medal soccer game?

[:UnclSxyPants: Profile]

US? soccer? gold? im thinking no

[ShellShock Profile]

Originally posted by :UnclSxyPants:
US? soccer? gold? im thinking no

ditto

[shockwave203 Profile]

Originally posted by Mutant Enemy
I hope there isn't too much Anti-Americanism at the Olympics this year, but I think there will be. There were people jeering Lance Armstrong during the Tour de France.

i really hope there won't be either. if you want to hate the bush administration, then fine. but don't hate the athletes who are there to play their heart out.

[Mutant Enemy]

Originally posted by shockwave203
i really hope there won't be either. if you want to hate the bush administration, then fine. but don't hate the athletes who are there to play their heart out.

Right on. Most people don't see America and President Bush as separate things anymore. We're all evil and wrong to some.

[:UnclSxyPants: Profile]

yes, all of you are evil and wrong, i believe everything i hear on TV!!!! EVERYTHING

[Mutant Enemy]

Originally posted by :UnclSxyPants:
yes, all of you are evil and wrong, i believe everything i hear on TV!!!! EVERYTHING

lol you
J/K, don't bash my head in

[:UnclSxyPants: Profile]

my name is unclesexypants....what part of that name gives you the idea that im capable of bashing heads in???

[Mutant Enemy]

I am a weakling, what can I say!

[Colonel Ingus Profile]

What would happen if the US crushed Iraq in a gold medal soccer game?

Er what?

Lame ass non contact, non scoring and non INTERESTING sports may be popular with the rest of the world but we play a different brand of Football here!

Soccer is seriously in need of a revamp before it becomes popular with Americans. I don't know a single person that watches soccer and everyone I ever ask why they don't like soccer points out how boring the sport is. You can actually play a game for an entire hour, have no one score, and then you both get 5 free shots on goal? WTH is that?

If you follow the past of American sports you see they tweak their rules to allow more scoring, Basketball is the perfect example of this. Its a sport I personally dislike and find full of selfish jerkoffs. My buddy says you should just spot each team 100 ppoints and then play two minutes and I tend to agree with him.

I was at a pretty popular sports bar here locally tonight and of the 24 tv's they have only two small ones in the back even had the opening ceremonies on. The rest, especially the big screens, had Pre-Season Football on and those games don't even matter!

I have to admit though we as Americans may have a serious disconnect with the rest of the world on sports. We absolutely love American style football and the majority of the world is fanatic about soccer. Is there something wrong with Americans?

Then again the worst thing that happens at an American football game is some Packers fan gets drunk and eats to many brauts and gets his butt kicked by security. We don't have any rush the field, stadium collapses, and 50 people are killed or crushed during a riot, matches.

Hmm maybe I am safer with a contact sport.