Iraq 1 - Saudi Arabia 0

From Jakarta:

Iraq completed one of sport's great fairytales by beating Saudi Arabia 1-0 in the Asian Cup final on Sunday to provide a rare moment for celebration in their war-torn homeland.

The Saudis had been bidding to become the first four-times winners of the tournament but Iraq, riding a wave of global sentiment, upset the hot-favourites for a rare slice of sporting glory.

Iraqi captain Younis Mahmoud scored the winner in the 71st minute when he climbed above the defence at the far post and headed a perfectly-weighted corner from Hawar Mulla Mohammed into the Saudi net.

When the final whistle sounded, the Iraq players collapsed to the ground in a mixture of shock and unbridled emotion, kissing the turf and embracing each other after their country's finest sporting moment.

Saudi Arabia were outplayed by an Iraqi team riding high on a wave of national support.

Update:

Iraqis in different neighborhoods in Baghdad took to the streets cheering and shouting, “Play play Iraq!” and “Stay victorious Baghdad!” after the Iraqi team won the Asian cup today.

In Sadr city people of all ages poured into the streets, walking and driving cars despite the vehicle ban, waving Iraqi flags and singing in joy. People were seen in the streets distributing sweets and soft drinks to the celebrating crowds.

Abu Baqir, one of the celebrating men, said: “Congratulations to everybody. This is the greatest sign of Iraqi unity. Congratulations to all Iraqis. You can see the national feeling, it has always been there, and we hope this winning will be the beginning of the end of sectarianism. This team includes Shiite, Sunnis and Kurds, it is a team of all Iraq...

In Adhamiya, eastern Baghdad — Lateef Muhammad, 47, laborer:
“This is a wonderful event, we are so happy. This joyful event will bring the people of Iraq closer. The people should express their happiness because it is unique. It is an event of unity. It plants love and removes hatred. With God’s will we will be united despite everything”.

In Najaf — Akram Al-Ghaderi, 33, journalist:
”This is a great time for Iraqis, and a small reward for their suffering from killings and displacement. This is a message to the entire world that Iraqis want peace, good, and building their country. This message is opposite to all the agendas working against the goals of Iraqis. The Iraqi politicians have failed in unifying Iraqis, but football did that”.

In Diwaniya — Kadhim Muhaisin, 22, student:
“This is a gift to the wounded people. We are so happy with it. This is the first time we win the Asian Cup. This cup is shining and other eyes are in tears”.

In Hilla — Ali Al-Dulaimi, 45, a colonel in the Al Aqrab security forces:
“This is an indescribable happiness. It expressed the joy of all Iraqis and covered all their pain because of car bombs and explosions. This has unified the Iraqi people from North to South. I consider it the biggest joy in Iraq since the fall of Saddam. This reaction that you see in the streets such as shooting in the air is because of the strong desire of Iraqis to celebrate any joyful event”.