Iraq Falls to South Korea in Friendly Match as Asian Cup Looms

Iraq wrapped up their preparations for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup with a friendly match against South Korea at New York University Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Despite a spirited performance, Iraq fell to a single goal from Lee Jae-sung in the 40th minute.

Coach Jesús Casas fielded a 4-3-3 formation, with Mohanad Ali leading the attacking line and 18-year-old Montader Madjed making his debut on the right wing. The Lions of Mesopotamia, clad in their new white Adidas kit, started brightly, with Ibrahim Bayesh coming close to opening the scoring early on.

South Korea, managed by Jürgen Klinsmann, gradually found their rhythm and tested Iraq’s goalkeeper Jalal Hassan. Lee Jae-sung’s long-range effort gave South Korea the lead just before halftime, leaving Iraq chasing the game.

The second half saw both teams make changes, with Iraq introducing Zidane Iqbal and Aymen Hussein, while South Korea brought on Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan. Despite playing with ten men late on after Kim Tae-hwan’s red card, South Korea held on for the win.

Iraq will draw encouragement from their performance, creating chances and gaining valuable playing time for their squad. The team’s defense stood firm, conceding just once from a distance strike.

The focus now shifts to the AFC Asian Cup, where Iraq will kick off their campaign against Indonesia on January 15 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. This friendly encounter provided valuable insights for Casas and his team as they aim for success in the upcoming tournament.

For more updates, follow the Iraq National Team on their official social media channels managed by Yaseen Kabash, providing English-language content for fans worldwide. Iraq will look to build on their learnings from this match as they target a strong showing in the prestigious continental competition ahead.

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Meghnad Iyer

Meghnad Iyer, our Indian football enthusiast, is the voice behind the vibrant narratives covering the Indian Super League (ISL). Born and raised in the football-crazed nation of India, Meghnad's articles are a celebration of the excitement and fervor that define Indian football.