Iraq dump Saudis out of Asian Cup with 2-1 win

[rassel]

CHENGDU, China, July 26 (Reuters) - Iraq knocked Saudi Arabia out of the Asian Cup with a well-deserved 2-1 win over the three-times champions on Monday.

Substitute Younis Mahmoud scored an 87th-minute winner as the Iraqis finished second behind Uzbekistan in Group C and advanced to the quarter-finals.

Iraq will play hosts China in Beijing on Friday while Uzbekistan face Group A runners-up Bahrain in Chengdu.

Saudi Arabia, coached by Dutchman Gerard van der Lem, were eliminated from the Asian Cup for the first time after reaching the last five finals.

Saudi-based midfielder Nashat Akram put Iraq in front with a clinical left-foot finish in the 51st minute of a bad-tempered encounter.

Defender Hamad Al Montashari gave Saudi Arabia a life-line six minutes later, arriving at the back post to head in a flick-on from Ibrahim Sowed.

Iraq came back at the Saudis, Mahmoud blasting a right-foot shot against the post from the edge of the box in the 72nd minute.

Four minutes later, Saudi substitute Talal Al Meshal blazed wide with the goal at his mercy.

Mahmoud punished that miss in the 87th minute, sliding the ball into an empty net after Saudi goalkeeper Mansour Al Naje had parried a shot from Qusay Munir.

Iraq finished on six points from three games after a 1-0 defeat by Uzbekistan and a 3-2 victory over Turkmenistan in their previous games.

Uzbekistan beat Turkmenistan 1-0 in a clash of former Soviet republics to finish with a perfect nine points.

Saudi Arabia finished bottom of the group with one point, below Turkmenistan on goals scored