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Iraqi football team returns home Iraqi footballers win on return
(about 2 hours later)
Football fans in Iraq are enjoying the return of international football to the country for the first time since the US-led invasion of 2003. The Iraqi football team has celebrated a victory in the first international football match to be held in Iraq since the US-led invasion of 2003.
At half-time in the northern town of Irbil, Iraq's players led 1-0 against the Palestinian team. The final score in the match played in the northern town of Irbil against a Palestinian team was 3-0.
The match is being hailed as a symbol of the promise of better times ahead for Iraq, and players released a number of white doves before kick-off. The game has been hailed as a symbol of the promise of better times ahead for Iraq, and players released a number of white doves before kick-off.
The last time Iraq played at home was in 2002 in a 2-1 win over Syria.The last time Iraq played at home was in 2002 in a 2-1 win over Syria.
Since then the team - one of the best in the Asian region - has led a nomadic existence.Since then the team - one of the best in the Asian region - has led a nomadic existence.
The country celebrated when Iraq's players won a notable victory in the Asian Cup tournament in 2007, beating Saudi Arabia in the final by one goal to nil.The country celebrated when Iraq's players won a notable victory in the Asian Cup tournament in 2007, beating Saudi Arabia in the final by one goal to nil.
The players have since struggled to rediscover that championship-winning form, although they put in a creditable performance in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa.The players have since struggled to rediscover that championship-winning form, although they put in a creditable performance in the recent Confederations Cup in South Africa.
During that competition, which pits the champion nation from each continent against each other, Iraq drew with New Zealand and South Africa - the hosts of the upcoming 2010 World Cup - and lost narrowly to European Champions Spain.During that competition, which pits the champion nation from each continent against each other, Iraq drew with New Zealand and South Africa - the hosts of the upcoming 2010 World Cup - and lost narrowly to European Champions Spain.
Nevertheless, a win at home today would be a rare and welcome good news story, reports the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse, in Baghdad. Nevertheless, the BBC's Gabriel Gatehouse in Baghdad says a win at home is a rare and welcome good news story.
The Palestinian players are themselves no strangers to conflict.The Palestinian players are themselves no strangers to conflict.
But the very fact the game is taking place inside Iraq, speaks of a country desperately trying to move beyond violence and insecurity, our correspondent says. But the very fact the game took place inside Iraq, speaks of a country desperately trying to move beyond violence and insecurity, our correspondent says.