Dubai: Iraq will be baying for revenge when they meet Australia in their 2010 Fifa World Cup qualifer in Dubai on Saturday.

Iraq dominated the play, but lost by a solitary Harry Kewell goal in the 47th minute in Brisbane last Sunday.

"We need to get the three points and we need to get them urgently if we are to keep our hopes alive for the World Cup," Ahmad Abbas, the general secretary of the Iraq Football Association (IFA), told Gulf News yesterday.

The Iraqi squad, led by their chief coach Adnan Hamad landed in Dubai early yesterday morning. They were scheduled to train in the evening at the etisalat Academy football ground.

Australia were scheduled to land in Dubai late yesterday.

"It has been a long trip from Australia and the players are tired," Abbas said. "We will have a light training session later in the evening."

Maintaining leadership

Last Sunday's win helped Australia retain their leadership in Group A with seven points, ahead of Qatar (4) and China (3). Iraq have just one point after three games, thanks to a 1-1 draw against China in February.

"We need the points and hence every match is important for us," said the IFA general secretary.

He rued the missed chances that could have given his team a win in Brisbane. The Iraqis created the majority of openings in the first half, but Kewell's header, just 75 seconds into the second half, sealed the game for the hosts.

"We dominated a major part of the match and still lost. We need to score goals if we are to win from now on to keep our hopes alive," Abbas said.

Iraq coach Adnan Hamad had suggested after the Brisbane match that the turmoil surrounding the disbanding of the IFA was one of the reasons behind the team losing their focus.

Iraqi football was in turmoil last week after world governing body for the sport, Fifa, imposed and then lifted a suspension on the IFA.