FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) 鈥� Iraq striker Aymen Hussein was delayed on the way to his first
He still made the best of his tournament debut.
Earlier this month, it wasn’t clear whether Hussein would be able to compete in the tournament after he and another member of the team’s traveling party were detained for several hours coming through U.S. customs in Chicago.
Two weeks later, Hussein the second World Cup goal in his country’s history during Iraq’s on Tuesday.
Hussein also had a late own goal, but Iraq coach Graham Arnold took only positives out of his star’s effort.
鈥淚鈥檇 rather remember his performance and the way he鈥檚 played,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 had quite a few injures during the season. For him to get through 90 minutes. … He鈥檚 the type of player that鈥檚 very difficult to control in the box. I鈥檓 very proud of him.鈥�
Norway took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute on a sliding goal by Erling Haaland.
Nine minutes later, Hussein energized a sizable contingent of white-clad Iraqi fans amid a sea of Norwegian red at Gillette Stadium.
Amir Alammari corralled a ball on the baseline halfway between the left corner and the goal and fired a cross. It eluded Norway鈥檚 defenders, allowing Hussein to punch a clean header that bounced under the hand of diving goalkeeper Orjan Nyland.
Iraq is playing in its second World Cup and first in 40 years.
Hussein appeared deflated as he shook hands with Norway’s players afterward, but his teammates were proud of the lift 鈥� however momentary 鈥� his goal provided to a team that came in as a heavy underdog.
鈥淚t’s a proud moment for him,鈥� defender Hussein Ali said. 鈥淏ut, of course, the end result, it’s hard to celebrate a goal like that. But we’re on to the next game.鈥�
Setting aside Hussein’s difficulties in customs, Arnold, who guided Australia at the 2022 World Cup, said the team’s experience leading up to Tuesday’s match has been positive.
鈥淔IFA, even the U.S., it’s not about politics 鈥� it’s about football,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he way we’ve been treated has been first class.鈥�
Arnold said his team’s effort Tuesday bodes well heading into Monday’s match against France in Philadelphia.
鈥淚 was very proud of the first 65-70 minutes,鈥� Arnold said. 鈥淎 couple of mistakes of players this type of level will always punish you. So we need to learn lessons from these mistakes.鈥�
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