T.D.N.N.: Asian WCQ: Iraq beat Singapore in fractious match

Iraq beat Singapore 2-0 in their Asian World Cup qualifier Tuesday but wasted several chances in a foul-tempered match.

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The match was a foul-tempered affair, with the players facing off on three occasions. Iraq played a physical game, felling the Singapore players with full-blooded challenges.

The home side also accused the Iraqis of time wasting and Singapore's frustrations came to a head in the 90th minute in the worst of the three confrontations.

Iraq pressured the Singapore goal from the starting whistle, laying siege for long periods of the game, but wayward finishing and determined defending kept the scoreline level at halftime.

Iraq's persistence finally paid off in the 49th minute when forward Ala'a Abdulzehra put them ahead, heading an inswinging cross to the left corner of Singapore's goal and beating keeper Lionel Lewis.

Lewis, a replacement for injured goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud, pulled off a string of vital saves throughout the match to prevent the scoreline from widening.

Singapore took the game to Iraq after conceding the first goal, but were unable to convert a series of golden opportunities.

And Iraq put the game away in the 85th minute after a seemingly innocuous chip by Iraqi striker Younus Mahmood sailed past a rooted Lewis and bounced into the goal.

The result means Singapore drop to last place in the standings as the only team with no points in the group, in a setback to their World Cup ambitions.