Iraq outplayed China in midfield at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium in the UAE to win Wednesday's 2007 Asian Cup qualifier 2-1.

Europe-based players Li Tie and Shao Jiayi played a half each as Zhu Guanghu fielded a five-man midfield, but good balls forward to young strikers Shi Jun and Dong Fangzhuo were few and far between.

It didn't take long for the visitors to impose themselves as Mahdi Karim gave Iraq a 15th-minute lead with a shot into the bottom left corner from a headed assist.

China drew level eight minutes into the second half. Shao Jiayi's cross from the right was cleared as far as Tao Wei, who found the net with a precise long-range strike.

But Iraq retook the lead on 65 minutes from a direct free kick, given for a foul by Du Wei. Hawar Mulla Mohammed's world-class shot struck the crossbar then went in off China goalkeeper Li Leilei.

Zhu Guanghu's reaction was to put Du Wei in attack and play a long ball game, but it was to no avail as Iraq held on for victory.

China's next Group E qualifier is at home to Singapore on 16 August.

Group E results:

Matchday 1, 22/02/2006
China 2-0 Palestine (19:30, Guangzhou Tianhe Sports Centre Stadium)
Singapore 2-0 Iraq (19:30, National Stadium, Singapore)

Matchday 2, 01/03/2006
Palestine 1-0 Singapore (16:00, King Abdullah International Stadium, Jordan)
Iraq 2-1 China (16:00, Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain)

Group E fixtures:

Matchday 3, 16/08/2006
Palestine v Iraq (18:00, King Abdullah International Stadium, Jordan)
China v Singapore (20:00, Tianjin Teda Stadium)

Matchday 4, 06/09/2006
Iraq v Palestine (18:00, Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain)
Singapore v China (19:30, National Stadium, Singapore)

Matchday 5, 11/10/2006
Palestine v China (20:00, King Abdullah International Stadium, Jordan)
Iraq v Singapore (20:00, Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain)

Matchday 6, 15/11/2006
China v Iraq (19:30, Changsha Helong Sports Centre Stadium)
Singapore v Palestine (19:30, National Stadium, Singapore)

Group E standings:
China 3
Iraq 3
Palestine 3
Singapore 3

(Sinosoc.com March 2, 2006)