Rub of the green favours Zico's Iraq

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3rd round FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Group A

Singapore 0 Iraq 2



SINGAPORE - The plastic pitch was more suited to schoolboy football than the professional and international game he said.

But despite his harsh words for the artificial turf at the Jalan Besar Stadium on Monday, Brazilian legend Zico had to concede that his Iraqi side got the rub of the green for the second goal of the night, a goal that killed off any chance of a Singapore fight back.

Iraq triumphed 2-0 on the second matchday in Group A of the third round FIFA World Cup qualifiers last night, condemning Singapore to their second consecutive defeat after a 2-1 loss to China last Friday.

"Yes, we were lucky, (Safuwan Baharudin) could have stopped the ball, but it bounced and we scored, and what's important is that we got the goal," said the man known as the "White Pele".

"Today we had luck, but in the last game we had no luck, but that's football," conceded the 58-year-old.

Iraq had several goal-scoring opportunities in their last game, but failed to find the back of the net, falling 2-0 to Jordan.

Iraq skipper Younis Mahmood was credited with the final touch of the ball that bounced over the head of the stranded Lionel Lewis in the Singapore goal, with 19-year-old Safuwan tricked by the bounce of the ball in the lead up.

That was just about the only time the Courts Young Lions central defender put a foot wrong, the lad turning in an outstanding performance with a hatful of last-ditch tackles to keep Singapore in the game.

Ala'a Abdulzehra found the net with a 50th minute header for Iraq's first goal.

Safuwan, like his team-mates, cut a disconsolate figure after the game, the youngster was the last of the Lions to board the team bus after having his right foot put in a temporary cast, a preventive measure for an undiagnosed foot injury.

While he declined to comment, veteran Aleksandar Duric was disappointed.

"Tonight, somehow that ball just bounced to their legs and they scored goals … and it seems we have bad luck with refereeing at the moment, we had two legitimate penalty claims that weren't given," said the 41-year-old.

The Lions conceded two penalties against China, and had one legitimate claim of their own denied in Kunming last Friday, with two more claims denied last night.

To make matters worse, coach Radojko Avramovic was sent to the stands for remonstrations during the China fixture, and had to watch last night's proceedings from the terraces.

"We have to believe that it's not over. I personally still believe we can do something (in this qualification campaign), there are still many games to go, but the next game against Jordan is very important for us," added Duric.

The Lions face Jordan at Jalan Besar on Oct 11 in a game that has now turned into a must-win fixture; because they currently sit at the bottom of Group A without a single point.

Avramovic declined to comment, but team manager Eugene Loo said: "We're disappointed because the boys gave their all. It's tough losing two games, but it's not over."