Iraq win Asian Cup football

By IANS

Jakarta : Iraq won the 11th Asian Cup football championship defeating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the final here Sunday.


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Younis Mahmoud scored Iraq's winner in the 71st minute.

This was Iraq's maiden appearance in the Asian Cup final, while the Saudis were looking for a record fourth title.

Meanwhile, Qatar made a successful bid to host the 2011 Asian Cup after the Asian Football Confederation executive committee meeting here before the final. Qatar was the lone bidder for the 2011 tournament as both India and Iran failed to submit their bids within the stipulated time.

The AFC also accepted the Iraqi Football Federation's request for a $50,000 grant for the extra travel expenses that the war-torn country's squad incurred during the tournament. This was is addition to the $40,000 that each country taking part in the 2007 Asian Cup received from the AFC.

 

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