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9.03am EDT 09:03

45 min Australia kick off and Juric just runs straight at the Iraq defence ala Mark Lee in the final scene of Gallipoli. It was the same, result, metaphorically.

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8.58am EDT 08:58

For the uninitiated. An explainer on WC qualification. Hi Sam, Toby from Rozelle writes. Can you please explain to us lowly viewers how the qualification works? Top 2 from each group go through? And third place from each group play off with the winner playing v concacafafcf?

You nailed it, Toby - minus the spelling of CONCACAF (theres something cathartic about writing it in CAPS, too. But I digress). Asia receives 4.5 spots in the World Cup, with the fifth placed team vying desperately for qualification against a South American giant. Its scary, very scary, but then again can give way to one of the greatest sporting moments a nation can experience.

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8.54am EDT 08:54

It was fairly streaky for the most part, but Australia gradually took control. On a very damp, bumpy surface, both sides conjured opportunities to score as the ball bypassed both midfields with worrying ease. Postecoglous grim expression under a soaked jacket said it all, before eventually his side started to exert some dominance. Each of Mooy, Irvine and Leckie have looked threatening when on the ball, even if the former was a fraction loose early on. It was his fierce corner after a sustained period of attack that found the rising Leckie to give Australia the advantage, and they went in search of a second soon after.

For Iraq, Abdulraheem looks equally dangerous when close to goal, though he does appear their primary outlet. Theyre taking any opportunity they have to play diagonal balls over the top from the left, and it appears a fair tactic thus far, as their talisman has managed to get on the end of a few.

The first fifteen minutes will reveal Postecoglous outlook on the remainder of the game. One senses hell need more than one goal to emerge with the three points, given how open the first half was. Iraq will rightly feel that they remain a huge chance of taking something from this in order to keep their exceptionally slim World Cup hopes alive.

As ever, welcoming your thoughts during the break and beyond, as Australia look to take another step towards Russia.

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8.46am EDT 08:46

44 min Beautiful interchange of passing between Australias front six - of the one-touch, swivel, no-look caper, and it falls to Juric. He shoots high and wide but it was the best sequence Australias produced thus far. They look likely.

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8.44am EDT 08:44

42 min Free kick to Australia after nice work from Irvine. Its in a great position. Mooys about 28 yards out, directly in front, but he hammers it straight into the wall. It emerges scrappily and falls to Milligan who sprays in wide. Huge pressure on Iraq here heading into the break.

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8.43am EDT 08:43

40 min Juric feeds a sumptuous ball through to Kruse who looks to beat Iraqs last man, but he cant. Nearly two-nil there.

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8.42am EDT 08:42

And there it is! Another Australian corner is curled in by Mooy, this time a little flatter than his previous efforts. Leckie, who has a relatively poor games-to-goals ratio, leaps unmarked and heads powerfully past Hameed. That will settle Australia.

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8.40am EDT 08:40

37 min Sustained attack from Australia here, successive corners parried away for yet more corners. Something feels imminent here.

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8.37am EDT 08:37

35 min Juric is brought down on the edge of the area but play is waved on. Its been fairly open slather until now so its in keeping with the games pattern. Australia earn a corner anyway but Hameed, again, intercepts and collects.

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8.35am EDT 08:35

31 min Leckie finds a one-on-one on Iraqs left and deftly beats his man with a couple of stepovers. He feeds Mooy who powerfully strikes a daisy cutter towards the far post. Hameed as able to get across and make the save. Still unnervingly open here, feels as though neither side has settled. A very jolty rhythm to the match so far.

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8.31am EDT 08:31

29 min We breathe as theres at least three minutes without bewildering space and a shot on goal. Fair to say neither manager would be too happy with their screen at the moment. Its all a bit streaky. As I type this Kruse crosses in with three men waiting, but it flies over them all. The traffic jam outside continues, though.

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8.28am EDT 08:28

26 min Its Irvine with a snatch shot from the edge of the area now and its tipped over by Hameed. Mooys ensuing corner is deep and much more easily collected by the Iraqi keeper.

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8.27am EDT 08:27

24 min Back in Iraqs area now and did Leckie have a shout at a penalty there? It always seems strange when the ball is being played away from goal, but he seemed to be collected late there. He stays down while the match plays on.

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8.26am EDT 08:26

23 min Australia under siege now. Another ball comes in from the left and Kalaf is alone with only Langerak to beat. Langerak rushes to cover the angle and Kalaf clumsily dinks it over the bar. Best chance of the match.

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8.24am EDT 08:24

21 min Its Iraqs turn now. An awkward ball into the Australian area almost sees Abdulraheem on the end of it, but Milligan intervenes in the nick of time. Corner to Iraq - Langerak punches clear.

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8.22am EDT 08:22

20 min Nice feet from Leckie affords Mooy some room on Iraqs left but the Championship Team of the Year midfielders ball is easily read at the back, and it comes to nothing. Some wasteful moments from Mooy, but hes finding opportunities.

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See the article here:
Iraq v Australia: World Cup 2018 qualifying live! - The Guardian