Hawar Mohammed converted a 30m free kick in the 67th minute and Iraq upset China 2-1 in Asian Cup qualifying on Wednesday.
Playing in Al-Ain in the United Arab Emirates because of security concerns, Mohammed's goal lifted Iraq past China, which was beaten by Japan in the 2004 Asian Cup final.
In other games on Wednesday, Syria defeated Taiwan 4-0 in Taipei, while the United Arab Emirates rallied with four goals in the final 22 minutes to win 4-1 at Pakistan, staying perfect through two games. Qatar also improved to six points, beating Uzbekistan 2-1 at home.
PHOTO: AFP
Elsewhere, it was: India 0, Yemen 3; Oman 3, Jordan 0; Kuwait 0, Bahrain 0; Palestine 1, Singapore 0; and Bangladesh 0, Hong Kong 1.
In Taipei, Zyad Chabbo scored a goal in each half and Jehad Al Houssain and Firas Al Khatib also added goals to pace Syria over Taiwan and a share of the lead in Group B with Iran and South Korea. The victory was Syria's first and gave it three points, same as Iran, which leads the group on goal difference.
With Iraq's win and Palestine's 1-0 victory over Singapore, all four teams have three points in Group E, although China leads Singapore, Iraq and Palestine on goal difference. Mahdi Karim opened the scoring for Iraq in the 16th minute, converting from 12 meters off a headed pass from Haidar Abdul Amir. China equalized in the 53rd minute on Tao Wei's blistering shot from outside the area.
In Karachi, Pakistan, Mohammed Qassim scored in the 68th to equalize, and was followed by Ismail Matar, Salam Saad and Saeed Al Kas in the next 20 minutes to move the United Arab Emirates three points atop Group C. Matar's goal was his second winner in as many games, having scored the lone goal in the United Arab Emirates' 1-0 victory over Oman last week.
Qatar also rallied in Doha. After Bilal Mohammed scored an own-goal in the 20th minute, Adel Lamy equalized just before halftime and Ali Nasser added the winner four minutes into the second half to put Qatar alone atop Group F.
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