Irag shocks Portugal 4-2 in Soccer

PATRAS, Greece (AP) -- In its first Olympic competition since its country was shattered by war, Iraq stunned star-studded Portugal 4-2 on Thursday in a gritty, come-from-behind victory as about 200 chanting fans cheered and jumped wildly.

After handing Portugal a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute through Haidar Jabar's own goal, Iraq hit back within three minutes through striker Emad Mohammed.

Hawar Mulla Mohammed then put the Iraqis ahead with a soft shot in the 29th minute, only to have FC Porto midfielder Bosingwa tie it for the Portuguese in the final minute of the first half after picking up the rebound from the goalkeeper, Moreira.

In the seesawing game, striker Younis Mahmoud regained the lead for Iraq in the 56th minute and this time there was no coming back for Portugal with substitute Salih Sadir scoring a fourth in the third minute of injury time.

Younis, with a bandaged cut above his left eye, was forced to leave the game briefly in the 83rd minute as some of the blood mixed with sweat had stained the front of his white jersey.

The Iraq fans, mostly students who traveled to Pampeloponnisiako Stadium from various Greek cities, chanted and jumped in unison. Some waved Iraqi flags and signs in Arabic as unarmed police watched.

At the end of the match, the jubilant Iraqi players ran across the field holding hands with their raised hands above their heads.

A student who identified himself only as Bassan said the group has come to root for their "motherland's team."

"We, of course, want a free Iraq but that does not seem possible at this time," he said. "The U.S in Iraq is not the best situation. We expect we will sometime soon be able to return to a free Iraq."

Portugal ended the match with 10 men after Luis Boa Morte was sent off for rough play. As the Portuguese player left the pitch, he was showered with dozens of plastic bottles by Iraqi fans.

Iraq was a surprise addition to the Olympic tournament. The nation managed to cobble together a team amid ongoing conflict at home and efforts to rebuild an Olympic committee that was previously run by Saddam Hussein's late son, Odai, who allegedly ordered abuse and torture on players who fell out favor.

In May, Iraq clinched an Olympic soccer berth just three months after being reinstated by the International Olympic Committee. Two months later, the team's German coach, Bernd Stange, resigned, claiming authorities advised him to leave for his safety.

He was replaced by his assistant, Adnan Hamad, who coached Iraq's national soccer team to victory in the West Asian Championship in 2002 and played on the national team during the early 1980s.

In July, Iraq reached the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup that included a 2-1 win over regional soccer power Saudi Arabia.

Portugal, which had Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo, Boa Morte and Hugo Viana on the lineup, is trying to make up for losing to upstart Greece in the final of Euro 2004, which it hosted. Now it has to beat Group D rivals Costa Rica and Morocco, who tied 0-0 in Iraklion, to reach the quarterfinal.