Algeria beat 10-man Iraq to cruise into quarters

DOHA: Defending champions Algeria punished 10-man Iraq 2-0 to reach the quarter-finals of the FIFA Arab Cup in style, topping Group D at Khalifa International Stadium on Tuesday.

Already-qualified Iraq paid the price for a fifth-minute red card to Hussein Ali as Algeria dominated the match with Mohamed Amine Tougai opening the scoring in first-half stoppage time and an own goal by Suad Natiq doubling their lead early in the second half.

Algeria finished the group stage unbeaten on seven points, followed by Iraq on six. Algeria will face the United Arab Emirates in the quarter-finals at Al Bayt Stadium on Friday, while Iraq take on Jordan the same day for a spot in the semi-finals. 

Meanwhile, Bahrain ended their campaign on a high, defeating Sudan 3-1 in a simultaneous match, while Sudan finished at the bottom of the group with a single point.

Iraq got off to a troubling start in front of over 34,000 spectators when Hussein Ali was sent off in the fifth minute for a dangerous foul on Yacine Brahimi. Algeria briefly thought they had a penalty soon after, but VAR ruled Tougai offside in the build-up.

With Iraq reduced to ten men, Adil Boulbina and Redouane Berkane impressed as Algeria applied pressure, while Brahimi continued to exploit spaces, seeing one shot blocked by a defender.

Algeria finally broke the deadlock in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. Tougai rose to meet a set-piece from the right and headed home. The goal was initially flagged for offside, but VAR confirmed it was legitimate, giving Algeria the lead heading into the break.

The Desert Foxes doubled their advantage shortly after the restart. Brahimi picked up a long ball on the left and delivered a cross; when Iraq goalkeeper Fahad Talib came out to intercept, Natiq was first to the rebound and powered it into the net.

Brahimi, influential throughout, was later rested as coach Madjid Bougherra made triple substitutions before the hour mark to preserve his players ahead of the quarter-finals.

Algeria continued to control the match, with Talib saving a couple of Boulbina efforts, while Yassine Benzia narrowly missed with a powerful strike from outside the box. Talib also produced a brilliant full-stretch stop to deny another fierce Boulbina shot.

Iraq squandered a golden chance to pull one back in the 75th minute when Ahmed Yahya’s cross found Amar Muhsin, whose close-range tap was blocked by teammate Ahmed Hasan. Algeria goalkeeper Farid Chaal also kept out a dangerous left-footed strike from Hasan Abdulkareem late in the game.

At Education City Stadium, Mahdi Abdoul Jabbar handed Bahrain the lead in the 37th minute. Sudan suffered another blow when Mohamed Saeed was sent off in the 58th minute. 

Sudan fought back with Yasir Mozamil equalising in the 72nd minute, but Mohamed Alromaihi converted a penalty in the 79th before Mahdi Alhumaidan sealed the 3-1 victory with a late strike in the 89th minute.