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India vs Iraq, King’s Cup Live: India will be without talismanic skipper Sunil Chhetri as they take on Iraq in the four-team King’s Cup in Thailand. Chhetri, who was pivotal in India’s title triumph in the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship, has taken a break to spend time with his wife following the birth of their son. Igor Stimac-coached India have been on a high with hat-trick of titles also including a tri-nation tournament in Imphal. But the challenge, thus far, has been inferior to what Iraq would pose in Chiang Mai. Iraq, who won the Arabian Gulf Cup, are firm favourites in the four-nation tournament where the winners of the two round robin matches play the final. The tournament also features hosts Thailand and Lebanon. The two losing teams will compete in the third place playoff match on Sunday.
King's Cup, India vs Iraq, Highlights: IRQ beat IND 5-4 on penalty shootout, qualify for final
King’s Cup, India vs Iraq, Highlights: Brandon Fernandes’ penalty miss proved costly for India as Iraq beat the Blue Tigers 5-4 on penalties to qualify for the King’s Cup final.
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India vs Iraq
That’s all we have for you from this match. Despite the defeat, not all is lost for India as they can still fight for third place, when they face the loser of the other semi-final between hosts Thailand and Lebanon, on Sunday. We’ll be back with the coverage of that game, but until then, it’s goodbye from us here at Firstpost.
India vs Iraq LIVE updates
Rahim Ali makes it 4-4 for India! However, Iraq score the winner in the next attempt, winning through penalties 5-4. Iraq are in the final of the Kings Cup 2023 tournament.
Iraq will face either Thaland or Lebanon in the final on Sunday, while India will play in the third place playoff match on the same day.
India vs Iraq penalties
Anwar Ali scores! He makes it 3-3 for India. Iraq are into the lead moments later, 4-3.
India vs Iraq penalties
Suresh Singh makes it 2-2 to India, just moments later Iraq retain the lead to make it 3-2.
India vs Iraq
Penalty shootout
Brandon Fernandes misses after his attempt hits the post! IND 0-0 IRQ
Iraq soon take a 1-0 lead over India with Salih scoring for them.
Sandesh Jhinghan makes it 1-1 for India!
Iraq retake the lead, makes it 2-1 against India.
India 2-2 Iraq
FULL TIME! Nothing to separate the two sides after 90-plus minutes of football. It ends 2-2 between India and Iraq, and the match will head towards a penalty shootout.
India 2-2 Iraq
93’: Red card for Iraq’s Iqbal after he pushes India’s No 10, Brandon Fernandes. He is receiving treatment in the middle by the India team physios. Brandon is up on his feet just moments later.
India 2-2 Iraq
90’: Four minutes have been added in injury time. Will either team find a winner here?
India 2-2 Iraq
88’: Substitution for India as Mehtab Singh comes on for Sahal Abdul Samad.
India 2-2 Iraq
85’: Just five minutes to go in regulation time in the game, plus injury time. Remember, if the scores remain same, this match will directly head to panalty shootout without the 30-minute extra time.
India 2-2 Iraq
GOAL! Iraq win a penalty and Aymen Hussain converts it! He slots into the right corner, beating Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. It’s all level again.
India 2-1 Iraq
72’: Iraq with a good chance to score an equaliser, but it goes begging. It’s a long ball that Bashar collects but his shot is saved by Gurpreet, who makes a gritty stretch to stop the ball.
India 2-1 Iraq
62’: Merchas Salih is given a yellow card for pulling the shirt of an Indian player. Meanwhile, tempers flare between the two teams and Gurpreet comes on from goal to the middle to help the situation under control.
India 2-1 Iraq
57’: India make a substitution as Rahim Ali comes in for Ashique Kuruniyan.
India 2-1 Iraq
GOAAAL! An own-goal blunder from Iraq goalkeeper Hasan gives India the lead. Manvir Singh gets some space from the right side of the box and looks to shoot. It was never a good shot really, but the Iraq keeper failed to get hold of the ball before misleading it to his own net.
India 1-1 Iraq
The second half is underway! Iraq kick off the second half as both teams look to get that one goal that will give them the lead.
HALF TIME!
India and Iraq are locked at 1-1 in the King’s Cup after the first 45 minutes. Naorem Mahesh with the opener for India before Al-Hamadi equalised from the penalty spot. The scoreline is a fair assessment of the first half with both teams doing well in attack. Challenge for India will be in being able to sustain this for the next 45 minutes
45+1’ India 1-1 Iraq
Ashique with brilliant dribbling to attack the Iraq defence but the attempted cross blocked. The ball stays on the sideline and India try to breach the Iraqi defence again but are stopped from doing so.
40’ India 1-1 Iraq
Five minutes to half-time and Iraq have a free-kick. The ball is close to Gurpreet who punches it away from the danger area. The ball remains with Iraq and a shot from distance is blocked away. Moment later, shot from distance by Rashid is well over the goal
34’ India 1-1 Iraq
IRAQ HIT THE POST! A free-kick from Iraq is into the India box, no one gets a touch on it and it bounces just in front of Gurpreet who does well to get a touch on it and parries it straight to the post. The rebound is an opportunity but nothing comes from it. Phew!
29’ IRAQ SCORE!
PENALTY TO IRAQ! Sandesh Jhingan is adjudged to have handballed in the area. He is cautioned for what the referee felt was a deliberate hand ball. Ali Al-Hamadi steps up and equalises. The penalty is low and to Gurpreet’s right in the absolute corner
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22’ India 1-0 Iraq
Chance for India! Akash Mishra with a cross into the Iraq area but the looped up ball is not easy to control for Indian attacker. Iraq keeper intervenes as well to put the chance at bay
Naorem Mahesh has given India the lead against Iraq
INDIA LEAD!
Mahesh Singh gives India the lead in the 16th minute. Wonderful through ball from Sahal, Mahesh does wonderfully to beat the offside trap and unleashes a left-footed strike to beat the keeper who tried to step up and cut the angle off.
India 1-0 Iraq
9’ India 0-0 Iraq
Gurpreet Singh clatters into an Iraqi player while punching an aerial ball into the area. A real hefty punch from India’s goalkeeper and the Iraqi player is brought down. No real complaints for penalty though. Ball comes out and the left-footed strike goes over the bar
6’ India 0-0 Iraq
Iraq dominating possession and most of the activity coming to from the right. Indian defence remaining steady under constant threat. A cut back from the right is intercepted and the game remains goalless. Looks like the approach from India is to play on the counter
India vs Iraq underway
India get the game underway with cloudy skies overhead. Commentators inform that it had been raining and the slips in the middle are showing immediately
India vs Iraq about to get underway
Players walk out to the middle of the pitch. National anthems of both teams are played. The two XIs with the final discussions before the game kicks off. India, in the blue, will attack from right to left. Iraq, in white, will go from left to right.
We’re moments away from start
Life comes full circle for Igor Stimac
Igor Stimac’s tenure as India coach began with King’s Cup back in 2019. Things have changed significantly since then – not just for him but for Indian football and its philosophy.
Ujwal Singh has more on Indian football under StimacIndia vs Iraq head-to-head
India are yet to defeat Iraq in six matches (four losses, two draws). The last time India took on Iraq, the Blue Tigers lost 0-2 in a Sharjah friendly before the 2011 Asian Cup.
Playing XI for India vs Iraq
Iraq XI: Jalal Hasan (GK), H. Ali, Sulaka, Putros, Doski, Ammari, Rashid, Bayesh, H. Ali, Resan, Al-Hamadi
India XI: Gurpreet Singh (GK), Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Akash Mishra, Nikhil Poojary, Anirudh Thapa, Jeakson Singh, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Sahal Abdul Samad, Ashique Kuriniyan, Manvir Singh
India team have arrived at the 700th Anniversary Stadium in Chiang Mai
India vs Iraq, King’s Cup Live
India take on Iraq in the first match of the 2023 King’s Cup. This will be followed by hosts Thailand taking on Lebanon. Winners of the two matches will progress to the final on Sunday. The losing teams, however, will have to contend for the bronze medal match (also on Sunday). Reminder: There will be no extra time in these matches. If there’s no winner after 90 minutes, the game will immediately go to penalties.