The opening stages of the match were hugely scrappy as neither side could string a series of passes together, but Bafana Bafana claimed the best opportunity when Macbeth Sibaya forced a fingertip save with a 20-yard drive on target. The second half saw some better football from the South Africans, who were the only side looking to win the game, and they should have scored when Dikgacoi?s header appeared destined for the Iraqi net only for Bernard Parker to block the ball on the line.
