The visitors went ahead when Amir Al Ammari’s free-kick caused indecision in the Emirati defence. The ball was never fully cleared, allowing Akam Hashim to send a low centre from the right that Al Hamadi turned in with a first-time effort.

Iraq’s advantage was to last only eight minutes, however. Possession was worked out to the right by the hosts and Abdalla Ramadan swung his left-foot cross in towards the edge of the six-yard box from where Luanzinho powered his header beyond Jalal Hassan.

Al Hamadi should have restored Iraq’s lead as the half hour mark approached, the forward bundling his way through the UAE defence before firing off a low strike that goalkeeper Khalid Eisa instinctively touched around the post.

Zaid Tasheen pushed his attempt well wide soon after as another Al Ammari free-kick was delivered into the UAE penalty area while Sultan Adil thumped his 37th minute attempt into the side-netting at the other end.

Eisa ensured the scores remained level at the interval when the Al Ain goalkeeper pushed a header from Mohanad Ali, who had been found unmarked eight yards from goal by Aimar Sher, over the crossbar.

Ali hit the side-netting moments later when he was played in behind the defence by Al Hamadi as the UAE clung on.

Hassan was called upon to keep out Ramadan’s attempt from long range barely 90 seconds after the restart before Eisa scooped Hashim’s shot to safety as both sides made lively openings to the second half.

Eisa then made a flying save to keep out Marko Farji’s strike while substitute Aymen Hussein headed wide of his own goal in injury time as the Emiratis pushed for the winner.

Caio Lucas put the ball in the net six minutes into added time but the winger was marginally offside when he bundled over the line, meaning the tie will be decided at the Basra International Stadium on Tuesday.