England

1-5

Iraq

Hatch

 

Sawadi
Manajid (2)
Karim
Fowzi

 

 

 

National Game XI Friendly international,
Macclesfield Town FC
27 May 2004


The England National Game XI were given a football lesson by Iraq in front of just over 4,000 spectators at Macclesfield Town FC on Thursday night.

For the second time in 4 days the side endured a delayed kick off to enable supporters to gain access to the ground. The large noisy Iraqi following added to the atmosphere on a warm spring evening.

After an even opening 10 minutes, it was Iraq that took the lead when Sawadi headed home from a corner, although he was left unmarked in the 6-yard area.

The England team were then subjected to heavy pressure, but it was to their credit that they failed to buckle and indeed did have chances through both Sheldon and Southam to equalise as the first half progressed.

An equaliser did arrive on the stroke of half time. The ever-impressive Hatch soared above the Iraqi defence to power a header into the net much to the delight of the crowd and his teammates.

During the half time interval, England manager Paul Fairclough made 4 changes and this did have an adverse effect on the team as they failed to recapture the form of the first half when they had battled bravely with a side ranked 44th in the FIFA rankings.

As the Iraqi pressure grew first Ahmed Manajid and then Mahdi Karim scored to put the green shirted Iraqi’s firmly in the driving seat, although both goals were as a result of poor defending an issue that had plagued the side in recent games.

The fact that some of the England side were playing their 4th game in 10 days was clearly taking its toll and there was little surprise when Manjid scored a brilliant solo goal 12 minutes from time and in the final minute Husam Fowzi fired home a long range shot.

As referee Uriah Rennie blew the final whistle it was the Iraqi’s that celebrated with their supporters whilst the England players were left to think about their 7th and final game of the season in the US on 9th June.

After the game, Paul Fairclough expressed his pride in his players who had "more than matched their opponents in the first half, but we looked tired in the second when they started playing Premiership style football - only better.

Their movement was fantastic with runs coming from all over the place. It was a fantastic experience to be involved in a game of that quality. It was fantastic to watch"

England: Baker (Kennedy) Perkins, Vickers, Sedgemore, Kennedy, Thompson, (Carlton) Kerr, Southam (Cowans), McNiven (Proctor), Hatch (Bacon), Sheldon