Socceroos v Iraq: Live Match Update

Australia 1 - Iraq 0

Full-time - AUSTRALIA 1-0

That's it from here, join us next week for the return match in Dubai (UAE).

While Harry will get the plaudits for his goal and performance, but Australia can once again thank Mark Schwarzer for several crucial saves to deny a gallant Iraq side, who had their chances.

There it is, the final whistle and Australia has survived to win 1-0 thanks to a terrific goal from captain Harry Kewell.

The fans are jeering they want the final whistle

91' Foul - on Djite, absolutely battered by Gatea.

Four minutes of time added on

86' Shot - Holman - shot into side-netting, it looked a goal... great work by Djite.

83' Save - Schwarzer - great save to deny Hawar, who suspiciously a mile offside, Schwarzer denied him one-on-one.

77' Aust sub - Kewell off - Bruce Djite on

77' Shot - Culina - tries a backheel after his surging run set Kewell free and the return cross was flicked wide by Culina.

75' Shot - Holman - Culina great ball to Holman, first time shot goes wide.

74' Shot - Kewell - tries a spectacular overhead kick from Wilkshire's cross, goes wide.

Rida is left with acres of space in penalty area, but first touch lets him down and allows Schwarzer to grab the ball. That was nearly 1-1.

70' Shot - Culina - shot from edge of the area, blocked and cleared after a great run and cross by Emerton

69' Shot - Holman - high and wide from edge of the box.

68' Iraq sub - Ajeel off - Ali Sadwn off

66' Kewell number two - saved by Noor. Magnificent ball by Wilkshire in behind defence, Kewell controlled but couldn't steer his shot past Noor. Great chance.

65' Aust sub - McDonald off - Brett Holman on

62' Aust sub - Bresciano off - Carl Valeri on

Crowd - 48,678

57' Corner - Iraq - Schwarzer punches clear

54' FK - against Bresciano for high foot on Gatea, who goes down threatrically.

48' YC - Grella

Kewell climbs unopposed to head home Emerton's brilliant cross into the box. Great start by Aussies and deserved goal for Kewell who has looked dangerous.

47' GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL - Kewell

The teams are back on the park and Australia get the second half underway

Excellent half of football with both teams looking for the win. Iraq have shown their credentials and are looking very dangerous. They have actually had the better chances with Rida and Younes squandering golden opportunities to score.

Australia look good going forward, but getting to predictable. Nice short balls in and around the box have caused problems.

Half time - 0-0

Two minutes of added time

45' long ball to Kewell and battles with Gatae, who goes down and Kewell claims a handball, although he would have been better going for loose ball as it was there to strike home.

44' Corner - Australia - but sails away.

43' Corner - Australia after Bresciano cross header away

42' Shot - Emerton - Carney's corner to back post his header wide by Emerton.

41' Shot - Wilkshire - blocked out for a corner

40' Shot - Hawar - tries a shot from 40 metres - well wide.

36' Shot - Younes (Iraq) - header wide, should have scored with only Schwarzer to beat from 7 yards.

35' Shot - Kewell - climbs well to meet Carney's cross, but header is well over

34' Shot - Wilkshire - punched by Noor - not for first time when easier to catch.

32' FK - Iraq - foul by Kewell on Akram - Akram's cross is headed on by Hussain, but goes wide of post.

27' McDonald chance from Wilkshire cross, but get connection. He is ruled offside in any case.

26' Save - Schwarzer great save to deny Rida who was one-on-one... Hawar's shot well wide from rebound.

22' YC - Haitham Hussien - another foul on Kewell

19' Shot - Kewell - header saved by Noor from close range

16' Schwarzer out quickly to clear a good through ball for Rida... the Iraqi's haven't come to defend that is pretty clear.

13' Shot - Kewell - header at far post is into side-netting from Wilkshire's free kick

13' YC - Irhema (Iraq) - crude foul on Kewell

12' Corner - Iraq - cleared... great play by Younes to get corner

11' Shot - Culina - surging run by Emerton, releases Culina, first time shot is wide of near post.

9' Bresciano oh first touch lets him down and can't get a good shot at goal... great interplay between Kewell, Carney and Bresciano.

7' Shot - Bresciano - great interplay on edge of the box - Bresciano low shot saved by Noor and Carney's follow up volley is blocked.

5' Shot - Rida (Iraq) - clearance straight to Rida, whose first time volley from 20 metres hits the crossbar and is desperately cleared.

5' Corner - Iraq - Schwarzer punches clear

2' Kewell - fouled on half way line and stays down a bit - that hurt

2' Iraq win a corner - cleared by Kewell

We are underway .

We are minutes away from this crunch qualifier

The national anthems are being played. The Australian anthem is sung with plenty of gusto by all, truly inspirational

FIFA President Mr Sepp Blatter is being introduced to the players and officials.

The teams are coming out to a raptous applause. There is a sea of goal around the stadium.

The atmosphere is pretty electric and there is still a lot of people to take their seats. As per usual the late comers are making their way into the stadium and hopefully we will have a capacity crowd of over 50,000 on hand to witness what should be an exciting game.

Team News>

Jade North has recovered from a leg injury to take his place in the starting eleven for Australia.

Australian starting line-up: 1 Mark SCHWARZER, 3 Michael BEAUCHAMP, 4 Jade NORTH, 5 Jason CULINA, 7 Brett EMERTON, 8 Luke WILKSHIRE, 9 Scott MCDONALD, 10 Harry KEWELL, 11 David CARNEY, 13 Vince GRELLA, 18 Mark BRESCIANO Subs from: 2 Chris COYNE, 6 Carl VALERI, 12 Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 14 Brett HOLMAN, 15 Bruce DJITE, 16 Nick CARLE, 17 Rod VARGAS

Iraq starting line-up: 12 Noor ABBAS HASSEN (GK), 2 Saad HAFID, 3 Basem GATAE, 5 Nashat AKRAM, 7 Emad RIDA, 9 Qusay ABOUDY, 10 Younes M KHALAF (C), 11 Hawar TAHER, 14 Haider HUSSAIN, 15 Ali HUSSEIN IRHEMA, 18 Mahdi AJEEL

Subs from: 1 Mohammed KASID KADHUM, 4 Salam Sh. ALI, 6 Salih SADWN, 8 Haitham TAHIR, 13 Muhammed ALI KAREM, 16 Mostfa ABDULLA, 17 Yasser RAHD MOHAMMED

Referee: Ravshan IRMATOV (Uzbekistan)