Iraq Survives Indonesian Trap, Lighting Up the Saudi Showdown
11 October 2025
Match overview
Iraq edged Indonesia 1-0 in a tense Asian World Cup qualifier played in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on a Saturday night. The victory gives Iraq three crucial points and keeps them in contention, while Indonesia’s hopes of advancing appear to fade in a highly competitive group.
Zidan Iqbal struck the decisive goal in the 76th minute, handing Iraq a valuable lead under coach Graham Arnold. The win pushes Iraq level on points with Saudi Arabia, though the Saudis retain the advantage on goal difference from the current slate of games.
Indonesia, led by coach Patrick Kluivert, battled hard but left with little to show in the way of an equalizer after a hard-fought, physical encounter that lacked a finishing touch.
First-half highlights
The opening exchanges saw Iraq in control of possession with patient build‑ups, yet attacking opportunities were scarce in the early stages.
Indonesia threatened with quick transitions and a few half-chances that were calmly repelled by the Iraqi defense.
On the left, Iraq’s attackers tried to unlock the defense, but the final ball often failed to arrive at the intended target as Indonesia pressed through the middle.
Chances remained scarce as both sides traded efforts without finding the net, and the half ended goalless, leaving the dressing rooms with renewed hope for the second period.
Second-half turnaround
After the break, Iraq’s approach changed with substitutions that tightened the midfield and helped create momentum.
Iraq pressed more aggressively on the left flank, and a notable chance arose as a cross found a teammate but failed to convert, keeping the scoreline at 0-0 for a while longer.
The introduction of Yusuf Al-Amin and Zidan Iqbal spurred Iraq’s attacking energy, culminating in the breakthrough in the 76th minute when Iqbal struck to put Iraq ahead.
Indonesia pushed for an equalizer, with late pressure and moments of controversy in a heated finale. A Indonesian player saw red after the final whistle for protesting decisions, while Iraq held firm to seal the win.
The result leaves Iraq in a strong position ahead of the final round, with the Saudi clash looming as a potential decider for the group standings.
Punchline time: If football were a joke, this match would be the punchline—the ball finally found the back of the net just when Indonesia needed it least. And yes, the ref’s whistle clearly double-checked the score twice, because apparently even the clock wanted a replay. Punchline 2: In football, timing is everything—even a 76th-minute goal can turn a party into a victory lap. But hey, at least the snack bar in Jeddah never runs out of motivational posters for the underdogs—talk about halftime morale boosts.
