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Iraq defeats Taiwan 4-1

Iraq's Aboudy M. Qusay, left, battles Chen Jui-te of Taiwan during the 2006 FIFA preliminary competition in Taipei, yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Salih Salih scored two goals and Sa'ad Hafidh and Younes Khalef added two more as Iraq claimed a 4-1 win over Taiwan in an Asian World Cup qualifyer yesterday.

Salih scored his first goal about four minutes into the match and grabbed his second around the 43rd minute.

Iraq scored again in the 75th minute when Hafidh tapped the ball in during a chaotic scramble in front of the goal.

Taiwan finally struck back in the 82nd minute when the ball hit forward Huang Wei-yi in the face in front of the goal and rolled in.

Iraq scored its last goal 86 minutes into the match, when Khalef headed the ball in from close range to seal the win.

Iraq coach Adnan Hamad said his team performed well considering their grueling schedule in the past few months.

The Iraqi team competed in the Asia Cup in China in July and August, losing in the quarterfinals, before playing at the Olympics, where it finished fourth after losing to Italy 1-0 in the bronze medal match.

"It's a difficult situation for the players and the team," Hamad said.

The coach said the team played six matches in 15 days at Athens and was only able to rest in Baghdad for two days before coming to Taiwan.

"But we tried to do things for our country and our people," Hamad said.
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