Chukiat Noosalung (L) of Thailand fights for the ball with Hussam Fawzi (R) of Iraq during their Group A match in The Asian Cup in the southern Lebanese town of Saida October 12, 2000. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, kicks-off today as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Niweat Siriwong (L) of Thailand chases the ball with Hussam Fawzi (R) of Iraq during their Group A match of The Asian Cup in the southern Lebanese town of Saida October 12, 2000. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, kicks-off today as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Abbas Rahim (front) of Iraq jumps for the ball with Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul of Thailand (rear) during their Group A match of The Asian Cup in the southern Lebanese town of Saida October 12, 2000. Iraq won 2-0. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, kicks-off today as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Source: www.footballasia.com

Iraq player Mahmoud Haidar (L) rounds Thailand goalkeeper Wangchang Wirat to score a second goal failed as Thai defender Promrut Choketawee (R) looks on during the group A Asian Cup match in Saida October 12, 2000. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

 

Iraq's forward player and captain Abbas Obeid Jassim (front) runs for the ball after dodging Thailand's defenders Surachai Jirasirichote (C) and Therdsak Chaiman (R) during their Asian Cup 2000 game in the southern Lebanese Mediterranean port of Sidon 12 October 2000.

Iranian Ali Daei (top) jumps for the ball with Chukiat Noosalung of Thailand during their Group A match of The Asian Cup in Beirut October 15, 2000. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, continues as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Khodadad Azizi (L) of Iran figths for the ball with Anuruck Srikerd (R) of Thailand during their Group A match of the Asian Cup in Beirut October 15, 2000. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, continues as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Iranian Ali Daei (L) jumps for the ball with Chukiat Noosalung and Anuruck Srikerd of Thailand during their Asia Cup group A match in Beirut October 15, 2000. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Asia's top soccer competition, Asia Cup 2000, continues as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Iranian Ali Karimi (R) fights for the control of the ball with Anuruck Srikerd (L) of Thailand during their Asia Cup group A match in Beirut October 15, 2000. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Asia's top soccer competition, Asia Cup 2000, continues as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Iranian Mehrdad Minavand (R) jumps for the ball with Tawan Sripan (L) of Thailand during their Asia Cup group A match in Beirut October 15, 2000. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Asia's top soccer competition, Asian Cup 2000, continues as scheduled in Lebanon despite rising tensions in the Middle East. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Iran's Alireza Emamifar (17) fights for the ball with Tananchai Boriban of Thailand at their Asia Cup group Amatch in Beirut October 15, 2000. Iran and Thailand were tied 1-1. REUTERS/Eriko Sugita

 

Lebanon's Luis Fernandez (15) fights for the ball with Anuruck Srikerd of Thailand in the first half of their Asian Cup match in Beirut October 18, 2000. The Asian Cup soccer tournament is being held in Lebanon amid tension in the Middle East. REUTERS/Eriko Sugita

 Lebanon's midfielder Jadir Morgenstern chases Thai striker Sakesan Pituratana during their match of the Asian Cup 2000 held at the Beirut sport center October 18, 2000. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi

Thailand striker Sakesan Pituratana (R )shootsat goal as Lebanon's midfender Jadir Morgenstern (L) chases him during a match in the Asian Cup 2000 held in Beirut's sport's centre October 18, 2000. REUTERS/Jamal Saidi