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Iran beats Iraq 2-1 in Asian Cup

11 January 2011 20:30 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iran has come from behind to clinch a valuable 2-1 victory over defending champion Iraq in its first match in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, APA reports quoting Press TV.

Younus Mahmoud gave Iraq the lead in the 12th minute of the match, held at al-Ryian Stadium in Doha on Tuesday.

But striker Gholam-Reza Rezaei equalized in the 41st minute. After the break, midfielder Iman Mobali’s free kick gave Iran the victory.

There was about 15 seconds of silence before the game for the 77 people who died in a plane crash in Iran’s northwestern city of Orumiyeh.

Iran has been drawn with Iraq, World Cup finalist North Korea and the United Arab Emirates in Group D of the competition.

In the other match of Group D, North Korea was held to a scoreless draw against the United Arab Emirates at the Qatar Sports Club Stadium.

Iran is now on top of Group D with three points while North Korea and the UAE are level on one point, with Iraq standing at the bottom.

Three-time champion Iran won the tournament in 1968, 1972 and 1976.