PATRAS, Greece, Aug 12 (AFP) - Iraq celebrated a stunning return to Olympic football duty after a 16-year absence with a thrilling but controversial 4-2 win over 10-man Portugal on Thursday.
Iraq, who made the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup last month, went into the match as underdogs against a Portuguese side boasting a wealth of top class talent inlcuding Manchester United`s Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Boa Morte of Fulham.
But the match turned early in the seocnd half when, with the sides locked at 2-2, Boa Morte was sent off.
Iraq had fallen behind through a Haidar Jabar own goal before hitting back to lead thanks to Emad Mohammed and Hawar Mulla Mohammed.
Portugal were level by the break thanks to Bosingwa before the match exploded in the second half when Boa Morte received a controversial red card which paved the way for Younis Mahmoud to score the third before substitute Salih Sadir wrapped up a famous win in injury time.
"Everybody expected Portugal to win," said Mahmoud. "But we played very good football, showing that we are a good team and we pulled off a surprise."
The Portuguese, who qualified for the tournament by finishing runners-up to Italy at the European Under-21 championship in the summer, took an early grip on the match and opened the scoring in bizarre fashion after just 12 minutes.
A leftwing cross from Hugo Almeida beat the Iraq goalkeeper Nour Sabri and defender Jabar, in a desperate attempt to clear, only succeeded in turning the ball into his own net.
But Iraq were level just four minutes later when Emad Mohammed, clean through on goal, scored at the second attempt after Portuguese keeper Moreira had only half-saved his first shot.
Moments later Ronaldo was lucky to have stayed on the pitch when he only received a yellow card from Cameroon referee Divine Evehe despite having poleaxed Younis Mahmoud with a violent thrust of his elbow into the eyes of the Iraqi.
The incident spurred on the Iraqis and they went ahead after 29 minutes when Hawar Mulla Mohammed was first to react when Emad Mohammed`s header came back off the crossbar.
Ronaldo, now being widely booed by the crowd, then saw his curling free-kick come back off the post.
But the Portuguese didn`t have to wait long to get back on level terms when FC Porto`s Bosingwa made it 2-2 with a right foot shot from outside the area which sliced through a crowd of players.
Portugal striker Luis Boa Morte was controversially sent off in the 51st minute for kicking out at the heels of full-back Bassim Abbas leaving the Fulham star outraged at what he thought was a harsh decision.
Boa Morte was pelted with water bottles as he headed for the tunnel before Iraq took advantage of the extra man by regaining the lead in the 56th minute as Younis Mahmoud finished off a one-two with Emad Mohammed.
Almeida then flashed a header off the crossbar before their luck really ran out in time added on when Sadir tucked home a cross from Mahdi Karim for his team`s fourth goal.