Iraq secure first World Cup spot in 40 years after hard-fought victory over Bolivia

[p]One may have expected a nervy opening to the game considering the high stakes, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a] started on the front foot as they went in search of an early breakthrough.[/p][p]The Lions of Mesopotamia went agonisingly close to taking the lead after only nine minutes following a superbly taken free-kick from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-ammari-amir/fwaJHIba/"]Amir Al-Ammari[/a], but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vizcarra-guillermo/Yc1T8o5h/"]Guillermo Viscarra[/a] produced an impressive save to tip the ball onto the bar.[/p][p][b]However, Viscarra could not come to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bolivia/nXdi7mbc/"]Bolivia[/a]’s rescue just a minute later. An excellent corner from Al-Ammari found [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-hamadi-ali/bkbKtyxR/"]Ali Al-Hamadi[/a] inside the box, and his powerful header flew into the back of the net, sparking huge celebrations.[/b][/p][p]La Verde reacted well to this setback, though, and gradually grew into the contest, culminating in an equaliser less than 10 minutes before the interval.[/p][p][b]A speculative effort from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/vaca-ramiro/2yvkZa7M/"]Ramiro Vaca[/a] was inadvertently fired straight at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/paniagua-moises/C4c4Kj9O/"]Moises Paniagua[/a], but the Wydad AC forward trapped the ball expertly and guided a close-range strike out of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/basil-ahmed/SEkKyPPm/"]Ahmed Basil[/a]’s reach to level the match.[/b][/p][embed guid="4c6f826f-fb84-4c23-a5ea-87eab9ac8603" url="https://x.com/FIFAWorldCup/status/2039208352631185781" social-type="twitter" /][p]With the game finely poised in the opening stages of the second half, Iraq captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hussein-ayman/Aq6AX0QC/"]Aymen Hussein[/a] stepped up to take the match by the scruff of the neck and steer his side back in front. [/p][p][b]Substitute [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/farji-marko/86Zebdwt/"]Marko Farji[/a] made an instant impact, as his precise pass picked out Hussein in a perfect position for him to score from inside the area and notch his 33rd goal for his country.[/b][/p][p]Tension took hold of the game following the hydration break in the second half, with both sides desperate to achieve a famous victory. While this resulted in a scrappy affair, it was nonetheless an engrossing watch.[/p][p]With full-time looming, Graham Arnold’s side had a golden opportunity to all but secure victory, but [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mohanad-ali/ln4qRpKi/"]Mohanad Ali[/a] blazed his shot over the bar when a little more composure would have sufficed.[/p][p]Despite that spurned chance, Iraq held on to claim one of the most important wins in the national team’s history. This is only the second time that they have qualified for the FWC, while Bolivia’s long wait to make a first appearance since 1994 must continue.[/p][p]The victors’ reward is a place in Group I this summer alongside France, Norway and Senegal - a tough ask to reach the knockout stages, but they have more than earned their place at the showpiece.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/al-ammari-amir/fwaJHIba/"]Amir Al-Ammari[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/iraq/K8aAGt6r/"]Iraq[/a])[/b][/p][image alt="Player ratings" id="a326d05a-11f8-4601-9b71-060af351d55d" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="a81054ee-b532-4237-9770-28fe217b6e29" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/bolivia-nXdi7mbc/iraq-K8aAGt6r/?mid=nu8tqnGs"]Catch up on the match here.[/a][/b][/p]