Fireworks and celebrations spread across the central Tahrir Square in Baghdad after Iraq’s football team defeated Iran 2-1 to take a commanding lead in its 2022 World Cup qualifiers group.

 

Thousands of Iraqis had been watching the match on a giant screen set up in Tahrir Square.

 

With this result, Iraq had strengthened its lead in Group C by 10 points, with two points ahead of Bahrain while Iran remains in third place.

 

Alaa Abbas scored in injury time to give Srecko Katanec's Iraqi side a command of Group C, which they lead with 10 points, two clear of Bahrain, who drew 0-0 with Hong Kong.