IRAQ v INDONESIA: DECISION IN EXTRA TIME
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The first of five but the only non-European play-off was an absolute thriller! Both candidates could've ended a long period of absence from the FIFA World Cup, but only one team would advance. Iraq was at the 1986 World Cup Mexico, a country they could return to should they qualify. 40 years ago, Iraq lost all of three group games against Paraguay (0-1), Belgium (1-2) and host nation Mexico (0-1), three countries who'll be at this World Cup once again. Indonesia was at the World Cup once before: in 1938 it participated as The Dutch Indies losing 6-0 to then top side Hungary (who'd be runner-up that year).
The decisive play-off was held on neutral ground in King Fahd Sports City Stadium in Ryadh, Saudi Arabia. And Indonesia went right at it: on paper te more defensive side, the East-Asian Archipelago forced Iraq back due to possession play pressing forward. The first attempt at goal was immediately successful: Amsterdam-born midfielder Thom Haye found striker Ramadhan Sananta, who immediately placed the ball in the net: 1-0.Indonesia continued to play dominant and aggressive throughout the first half, not giving Iraq an inch.
How different was the second half. Indonesia seemed to suffer more and more due to fatigue, while Iraqi patience seemed to pay off. Iraq managed to equalize in the 72nd minute thanks to Khalid Al Maysani and pressed on. The Middle Eastern team would find the woodwork twice (once due to an intervention of Indonesian goalie Emil Audero who plays his games for Italian club Cremonese) before scoring in the 86th minute, only to be waved back for offside. And so luckily for Indonesia, regular plus added time ended level, with the match going into extra time.
In Extra Time, both teams had 30 minutes to prevent a penalty shoot-out. Indonesia caught second breath and overwhelmed Iraq again like thy did in the first half. Very soon Iraq had to pull the emergency break which resulted in a penalty kick converted by Indonesian stand-out player Thom Haye. Iraq however bounced back quickly with Mohanad Habbani this time successfully avoiding the offside trap; he scored 2-2 one-on-one with Audero.
And thus everything was still to play for, but fatigue now drastically surpressed the level of play. In the 108th minute, it was Stefano Lilipaly who found striker Sananta once more. The striker playing for Persebaya Surabaya ran around defender Tawfiq Shattari and struck ferociously hard: 3-2.
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[Picture] Haye (1 assist, 1 goal) and Sunanta (2 goals) have instantly become national heroes
After another 10 minutes or so of hooving the ball away, Indonesia came out on top and it's them that can book tickets to the FIFA 2026 World Cup this summer. This will end 88 years of absence from football's highest platform! Patrick Kluivert, the Dutch manager of Indonesia could not be more proud: "We rely on a quite sturdy defense with quite some quality, but in possession this team is capable of some nice things. It's great to go to the World Cup, but we don't go there as cannon fodder. We will sell our skin at high price and our aim is to at least make it to the knock-out stages!"
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A nation cheers, a nation cries: a dramatic evening in the Saudi Arabian capital Ryadh
