Iraq today clinched its first Asian Cup victory with a 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia in Sunday’s final in Jakarta, a beacon of hope for a nation divided by war.

A squad drawn together from all parts of the Gulf and with its players straddling the bitter and violent ethnic divides, somehow conjured an extraordinary triumph over the odds.

Iraq dominated the final against a heavily favoured Saudi Arabia, a three-time Asian Cup champion. Younes Mahmoud, the Iraqi skipper, sealed the win in the 72nd minute, meeting Hawar Mulla Mohammed's corner kick at the far post with a towering header.

At the final whistle, Mahmoud sprinted across the pitch with his elated teammates in pursuit before they collapsed into a pile, overwhelmed with their achievement.

The victory was hailed by a barrage of gunfire in Baghdad as thousands of Iraqis, including members of the security forces, defied a strict government ceasefire order to celebrate their victory .

Saudi keeper Al Mosailem had earlier kept his side in the match with a fine double save from Mahmoud and Nashat Akram.

But Iraq had a lucky escape in stoppage time when Saudi striker Malek Maaz bounced a header on to the roof of the net.

Man-of-the match Mahmoud's goal came after concerted Iraqi pressure when Hawar's corner directed at the far post went beyond goalkeeper Yaser Al Mosailem for the captain to nod home.

It was Mahmoud's fourth goal to finish joint leading scorer in the tournament with Saudi Arabia's Yasser Al Qhatani and Japan's Naohiro Takahara.

Iraq finished conceding just two goals in their six games and upset the free-flowing Saudis, who were the leading scorers with 12 goals.

Iraq have showed great resolve throughout the tournament, crushing Australia 3-1 and negotiating South Korea on penalties in last Wednesday's gruelling two-hour semi-final in Kuala Lumpur.

It was a combustible opening 45 minutes with the Australian referee Mark Shield issuing five yellow cards - three to Iraq and two to the Saudis - as tackles flew in with a take-no-prisoner approach from both teams.

The Iraqi defence handled the twin Saudi threat of Malek Maaz and Yasser Al Qahtani capably with left-back Bassim Abbas having a particularly solid game with his trademark acrobatic overhead clearances.

There was plenty of off-the-ball incidents with defender Ali Hussein Rehema going down clutching his face in the penalty area awaiting a free kick with the referee speaking to Al Qahtani but not taking the matter further.

Iraq, who had the better chances in the fiercely-contested exchanges, went close in the 28th minute when Karrar Jassim wriggled past two defenders and forced goalkeeper Yaser Al Mosailem to punch clear.

Iraq skipper Mahmoud went down dramatically grabbing his head after defender Waleed Jahdali appeared to head-butt him, but television replays showed that Mahmoud milked the incident and both were booked by the referee.

Al Qahtani had his only chance of the half when he made some space nearing half-time but blazed his shot well over the bar.

Playmaker Nashat Akram gave Mahmoud a chance in the box but his close-range shot was blocked by Waleed Jahdali 15 minutes after the interval.

As the Saudis pushed for an equaliser, Iraq missed several chances to kill off the game. And their failure to seal the win was almost punished when Iraq keeper Noor Sabri missed a cross and Malek Maaz's downward header bounced up and over the bar on to the roof of the net.

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