The Southeast Asians had made a fluent start with Calvin Verdonk seeing his attempt from distance deflected wide and, from the resulting corner, Kevin Diks glanced a header across the face of goal. Thom Haye dragged his shot off target soon after.

Sherko Karim headed over the Indonesian bar in the 29th minute in a rare sight of goal for the Iraqis in the opening half hour while Dean James bent his free-kick from distance narrowly wide of Jalal Hassan’s left post to bring an end to a tense first half.

Youssef Amyn should have done better as the game approached the hour mark when Mohannad Ali’s pass was deflected into his path but the halftime substitute sliced his left-foot shot well wide of the target.

Slowly the game started to open up. Diks slid a low shot into the hands of Hassan in the 65th minute after impressive build-up play before, with 14 minutes left, the Iraqis went in front.

Defender Rizky Ridho needlessly gave away possession deep inside his own half and the ball eventually ended up at the feet of Iqbal, and the former Manchester United midfielder stepped onto his left to fire a clinical strike into the bottom corner of Paes’ goal.

Iraq defender Zaid Tasheen, who had earlier picked up a yellow card for a foul on Ole Romeny, was sent off in the dying seconds for a second bookable offence after a late altercation but Iraq held on for the win.