Iraq overcome odds to reach Asian Games final

Iraq's Samer Mujbel (L) jubilates after scoring the first goal against South Korea during their Asian Games semi-final at Al-Gharrafa Stadium in Doha. Iraq has opened up another chapter in their fairytale Asian Games football story when they reached their first final in 24 years with a 1-0 win over South Korea.

Iraq has opened up another chapter in their fairytale Asian Games football story when they reached their first final in 24 years with a 1-0 win over South Korea.

The Iraqis, who endured a miserable build-up to the Games which saw one member of their football federation murdered and their coach receive death threats, will now take on either Qatar or defending champions Iran in Friday's gold medal match.

The only goal came in the 24th minute when skipper Younes Khalef, who plays his club football at the Al Gharrafa Stadium where the semi-final was staged, beat the offside trap and sprinted in on goal.

He got past Kim Young Kwang in the Korean goal but then saw his close-range shot cleared off the line.

However, Samer Mujbel was first to react and nodded the ball between the legs of the recovering South Korean keeper to score.

South Korea, who hadn't reached an Asian Games final since 1986 when they won the last of their three golds, pressed forward loooking for an equaliser.

But they were let down by a combination of lack of composure in front of goal and some steady work by Iraq keeper Mohammed Khadum.

The Koreans hadn't conceded a goal in the tournament before Tuesday and they continued to drive forward after the interval.

Park Chu Young came close in the 70th minute with a smart turn and shot which just drifted wide of Khadum's right had post.

Park then headed over from a free-kick as the Koreans laid siege to the Iraq goal while Yeom Ki Hun missed his shot when he was left in plenty of space in the box.

But Iraq held on for a famous win which was greeted with wild, emotional scenes inside the ground.

It came at a cost though with skipper Khalef picking up a yellow card which will rule him out of the final.