AFC Asian Qualifiers
Yousef Al Sulaiman scored either side of the break but stoppage time goals from Akam Hashim and Ibrahim Bayesh ensured Iraq took home a share of the spoils but meant they dropped to third in the standings, behind Jordan on goal difference. Korea Republic lead with 15 points.
It was a cagey start to the contest with Iraq having the first look at goal in the12th minute after Zidane Iqbal slipped the ball through for Mohanad Ali, but the Al Shorta forward skied his effort from distance.
Ali Jasim came close to putting Iraq ahead in the 17th minute when he collected Peter Gwargis’ cross off a free-kick before sending a low angled shot into the path of goal, only for Kuwait’s Sultan Al Enezi to make a crucial clearance.
Iraq almost caught Kuwait on the break in the 20th minute after Ali outmuscled his marker before sending Merchas Doski through but the defender’s run inside the box was cut short by Jasem Al Mutar.
Kuwait played in patches and hardly troubled Iraq custodian Ahmed Basil with Mohammad Al Nassar trying his luck from just above the box, while Iraq wasted another chance to take the lead through Gwargis.
However, Iraq were left stunned in the 39th minute after Mohammad Daham sent a lob into the box for Al Sulaiman, who finished with a volley past a rooted Basil.
Kuwait were kept on their toes in the second half as Iraq increased the intensity with Jasim and Hussein Ali both missing from outside the box before keeper Khaled Al Rashidi kept out Hussein Ali's powerful shot from just above the area.
For the second time in the match, Iraq were caught off guard in the 70th minute after Mohammad Al Nassar’s through ball into the box opened up space for Ahmad Al Dhefiri to set up Al Sulaiman to strike home their second of the evening.
Iraq tried to claw their way back and finally found the target in the third minute of added time with substitute Hashim finding the back of the net from above the box before Bayesh struck the equaliser in the closing seconds to cap the fightback.
Kuwait were reduced to 10 men at the end after Abdulrahman Al Fadhli was shown the red card.
They will meet Oman on Tuesday while Iraq will meet Palestine.
