Former Asian champions Iraq needed two penalties in regulation time, and the tiebreaker, to put it across a fighting India and book their place in the final of the King’s Cup at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on Thursday.
The teams were tied 2-2 at the end of regulation time. In the tiebreaker, Iraq converted all five penalties, after Brandon Fernandes had missed the opening spotkick for India.
India took the lead twice against the Arabian Gulf Cup champions through Mahesh Singh and an own goal from goalkeeper Jalal Hasan early in the second half. Iraq, though, fought back, scoring twice from the spot as Ali Karim and Aymen Ghabhban made no mistake.
The second penalty, a soft one that punctured India, came with nine minutes left to be played.
“Until the second penalty, it was going well for us, but this is football,” Mahesh said after the game.
The East Bengal winger had given India a surprising lead in the 17th minute. When there was a window of opportunity, Sahal Abdul Samad picked up the ball down the left flank and slipped it for Mahesh, who took a nice touch and finished it equally well.
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Iraq, who included their European-based stars, clawed their way back through a penalty after Sandesh Jhingan was adjudged to have handled the ball inside the box. Ali Karim stepped up.
In the second half, India again took the lead but Iraq pushed more men higher up the pitch, and won another penalty.
In the tiebreaker, Brandon stepped up to take the first penalty but ended up striking the post. Jhingan, Suresh Singh, Anwar Ali and Rahim Ali all converted the next four penalties, but Iraq had a perfect record from the spot.
