The Final of the AFC Asian Cup 2007 has just ended and Iraq clinched their first ever title with a 1-0 victory over favourites Saudi Arabia. The 1st half was a cautious affair from both sides and the match was about to fall into a bore-fest when the 2nd half lightened up proceedings. In a game of few chances, it was inevitable that Iraq’s match winner came from Younis Mahmoud in the 72nd minute after lax defending from the Saudis from an Iraqi corner. Saudi’s tepid attempts at getting an equalizer came to naught and the match ended 1-0 to the Iraqis.
Iraq began the match on a 4-5-1/ 4-2-3-1 formation. They were 4-5-1 when they did not have the ball, and when they won possession, they switched into a 4-2-3-1. This was the winning formula as they outnumbered the Saudis in midfield and very often won the 2nd ball. They looked a little toothless going forward in the 1st half, the 2nd was much better as their playmaker Hawar Mulla Mohammed came out of his shell and orchestrated the show. But my Man-of-the-Match is definitely anchor-man Qusay Munir who ran his guts out and protected the back-four magnificently. His strength and dynamism in the middle of the park outshone the weary Saudis. Out-hustled and out-muscled, the Saudis were eventually beaten by the team with more hunger and desire.
The tactics of Iraq meant that there was very little time for Abdulrahman Al Qahtani to make the early passes to the wingers to cross for Yasser Al Qahtani to attack, or a quick ground pass for Malek Maaz to pounce through. It was not just a tactical victory for Jorvan Vieira or a physical and tactical triumph for the players, but also a well needed emotional boost for a country ravaged by war and religious divide. Once again, congratulations to Iraq, Champions of the AFC Asian Cup 2007.
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