SOCCER : Iraq Defeats Iran--on the Field of Play

Less than a decade ago, Iran and Iraq fought a war that killed hundreds of thousands. On Friday, these bitter enemies met on a soccer field, trying to win a spot in the World Cup.

Bomb-sniffing dogs were brought to 40,000-seat Khalifa Stadium to help the search for weapons or explosives.

After marching past a stand where supporters lifted a portrait of Saddam Hussein and released some doves, Iraq kept alive its hopes to win a World Cup berth with a 2-1 victory over Iran.

As expected, it was a rough game. One player on each side was ejected. Four yellow cards were assessed to Iraq, two to Iran.

Iranian players put their palms on the Koran and shouted “Ya-Ali,” the name of the first Imam of their Shiite Muslim sect. Iraq’s players walked by a portrait of Hussein praying.

After Iraq lost its first game, the nation’s soccer federation fired its coach. To become one of the 24 teams to qualify for the World Cup, Iraq must get points from games against Saudi Arabia and Japan next week.

The second game Friday was even rougher, with Saudi Arabia scoring in the final minute to gain a 1-1 tie with South Korea, a 1990 World Cup finalist.

Thousands of Saudi fans ran onto the field after the game. Riot police were called in because of fear of a confrontation between the Saudis and about 1,000 South Korean fans.