Substitute Ahmad Elrich scored in the 73rd minute to give Australia a 2-1 win over Iraq in a friendly before 30 000 fans at the former Olympic Stadium on Saturday.
Elrich’s winner came with his first touch of the match – latching on to a 40-metre pass from midfielder Josip Skoko. The goal came against the run of play, with Australia looking in trouble midway through the second half.
Iraq took the lead after just 11 minutes when a long ball to striker Mohammad Nasir caught Australia defender Tony Popovic flat-footed. Nasir put the ball past goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer as a large Iraqi contingent — many of them waving Iraqi flags — cheered. But Iraq came up with its own defensive blunder 12 minutes later when goalkeeper Sarmad Rasheed missed a Marco Bresciano free kick and virtually pushed the ball into his own net.
For much of the game Iraq looked more dangerous, and Australia’s defence was continually under pressure from the visitors’ speedy attackers, especially Nasir. Australia coach Frank Farina said he was disappointed with his players’ performance in what he called ”an ugly win”.
Farina had warned his defenders to be wary of the long ball, and admitted he had heavily criticized Popovic and Schwarzer at halftime. ”I said my piece to everyone – I think we had a few issues at halftime,” Farina said. ”I certainly let Schwarzer and the two central defenders know exactly how I felt.
”The boys looked a little lethargic at times. It was an ugly win and I know most of the players are disappointed with the manner in which we played.”
Football Australia said it will investigate claims of an altercation between Farina and a television presenter after the match. Farina is reported to have clashed with Australia’s SBS presenter Andrew Orsatti.
An FA spokesperson confirmed it received a report from SBS. Iraq has not qualified for next year’s World Cup in Germany. Australia plays the Solomon Islands in two matches in August, with the winner to face the fifth-placed South American side to determine a qualifier for the 2006 finals in Germany.
On Wednesday, the Asian Football Confederation gave its preliminary approval to embrace Australia in its group from the Oceania confederation. Official approval for the shift from world governing body Fifa is expected in the next three months.
Australia next plays Indonesia in a tsunami benefit match on Tuesday in Perth. — Sapa-AP