Mobali strike powers Iran

Iraq had grabbed the early initiative when skipper Younus Mahmood, who scored the winner when they the title in 2007, opened the scoring after 13 minutes, forcing team mate Emad Mohammed's header over the line. Iran equalised three minutes before halftime with a well-taken strike from Gholam Rezaei, who beat the Iraqi offside trap, and they took all three points thanks to Mobali's angled free-kick from 25 metres.

The match, between two neighbours who fought a bitter eight-year war in the 1980s, was free of trouble on or off the pitch and was played in a sporting spirit.

Earlier in the day, North Korea and United Arab Emirates produced the first 0-0 draw of the Asian Cup after the Koreans missed a first-half penalty in an evenly-matched Group D match at the Qatar Sports Club stadium. 

The Koreans squandered the chance to take an early lead after eight minutes when Hong Yong-jo failed from the penalty spot after UAE defender Hamdam Ismaeel sent Korean striker Jong Tae-se sprawling in the box after nudging him in the back. An entertaining first half produced 14 goal attempts from both sides, although most of them were well off target.
The second half was more of a war of attrition with both defences dominating and although the play continued to switch from end to end, there were few other real scoring chances.