[Instant Reaction] 0 point ... [edited]

Coach Raddy screen-grab off the live stream

The nightmare is over in Qatar when Iraq handed the 7-1 scoreline to send our boys back home to conclude a World Cup Qualifiers that would be best not to mention in the near future.

Despite the nature of being a "dead-rubber" for this fixture, the team with Brazilian legend Zico at helm did not allow any slip-up.

With the floodgates opened in the fourth minute through Karrar Jasim, there was not look back for the Iraqis who took and executed their chances well right till the end with skipper Younis Mahmoud rounded up with a hat-trick before referee Abdullah Al Hilali of Oman signalled the end of a heart-wrecking match.

Isa Halim's well-placed strike in the 28th minute was the only bright spark for the hapless Lions.

I guess one of the hardest things to stomach is the fact that two teams that qualified for the next phrase were once defeated by us and had shown where our football is now - stagnant.

Starting First XI of the Lions (picture credit: FAS)

Coach Radojko Avramovic was in a sombre mood as he addressed the reporters. He said: “Iraq came and outplayed us today. They showed why they have managed to qualify for the next round and their quality was obvious throughout the match.

"Today’s results around Asia also showed the gap between South East Asian nations and the Middle Eastern countries in terms of the standard of football.” he added.

Captain Shahril Ishak was visibly disappointed but was quick to address the positives of the whole campaign. He said: “We tried to play but the result did not come. The World Cup qualification round is now over and we need to look forward together as a team in preparation for the next tournament.

"Throughout this past few months of playing in the qualifying stages, we have picked up invaluable experience and this can only be good for us in time to come.” added the skipper whose misguided pass in the fourth minute saw the avalanche of goals that follows.

(Additional quotes extracted from the media release issued by FAS after the match)