Iraq booked a spot at the Rio Olympics after edging hosts Qatar for third place at the Asian Football Confederation’s under-23 championships with a 2-1 extra-time win.
Qatar, featuring many players expected to represent the gulf state at their home 2022 FIFA World Cup, looked set to secure the Olympic berth when they led 1-0, but Muhanad Abdulraheem equalized for Iraq in the 86th minute.
Substitute Aymen Hussein then sealed victory with a header four minutes into the second period of extra-time to send Iraq back to the Olympics for the first time since losing a bronze-medal match to Italy at the Athens Games in 2004.
“This victory really is the fruit of the great work of the Olympic committee in Iraq since we started our preparation,” Iraq assistant coach Hayder Najem said.
The final of the under-23 tournament was to take place later yesterday between Japan — who beat Iraq 2-1 after a 93rd-minute winner in the semi-finals — and South Korea.
Both East Asian sides are also to represent the continent at the Olympics in Brazil in August.
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