AFP/Brisbane


Yaser Kasim conceded luck played a part in his brilliant individual goal that earned Iraq a 1-0 win over Jordan in their Asian Cup opener in Brisbane yesterday. Kasim’s strike was the difference between the two teams as the 2007 champions grabbed a vital three points in front of 6850 fans, most of them cheering for Iraq.  
Kasim broke the stalemate in the 77th minute when he collected the ball just outside the box and weaved his way through two defenders with a mazey run. He found just enough space to squeeze out a shot, which took a wicked deflection off defender Tareq Khattab’s foot and gave keeper Amer Shafi no chance.
“I’m a midfielder so I always look for the pass, but as I got into the box I had a good first touch and I was looking to go down the line,” Kasim said. “But he obviously showed me a bit too much on the inside and, I was going far post, but luckily it got a deflection,” he added with a smile.
Jordan coach Ray Wilkins was left shaking his head in frustration. “We’ve gone through a long period without any luck. (The) lucky goal today was very disappointing from my point of view,” he said. “We’ve put teams under difficulty when we’ve attacked, but we need a little bit of luck to go our way, we’re not getting the rub of the green. We need it to go off someone’s backside and fly in the net. That will kick-start I’m sure a good period for us.”
It was the second international goal for the 23-year-old Kasim, who plies his trade in England with Swindon Town, and ensures Iraq are in the box seat to finish second in Group D after Japan thumped Palestine 4-0 earlier.
In a tight first-half little separated the two teams, who appeared to be more intent on not losing, rather than on winning. Iraq’s goal-scoring hero from their 2007 Asian Cup final win over Saudi Arabia, Younis Mahmoud, played as a lone forward and was heavily marked by Jordan’s defence.