Iraq rally to defeat Ukraine at Paris Olympics as Egypt held to goalless draw

Aymen Hussein and Ali Jasim score to secure comeback win in opening match in men's football event

Iraq's Ahmed Hasan and Zaid Tahseen celebrate their victory at the end of their Group B football match at the Paris Olympics at the Lyon Stadium. AFP

Youssef Amyn of Iraq celebrates victory over Ukraine at Stade de Lyon. Getty Images

Iraq defender Hussein Amer celebrates his team's victory. AFP

Ukraine defender Illia Krupskyi and Iraq's Karrar Saad vie for the ball. AFP

Iraq's Nihad Mohammed and Ukraine's Oleh Fedor fight for the ball. AFP

Ihor Krasnopir of Ukraine takes a shoot. Getty Images

Iraq's Ali Jasim, center, celebrates with Iraq's Karrar Mohammed, left, after scoring during the men's Group B soccer match between Iraq and Ukraine at the Lyon stadium during the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Decines, France. (AP Photo / Laurent Cipriani)

Aymen Hussein of Iraq scores their first goal from the penalty spot. Reuters

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Iraq enjoyed a dramatic start to the men's football section of the Paris Olympics as substitute Ali Jasim secured a 2-1 win against Ukraine in Group B.

Ukraine had taken the lead through Valentyn Rubchynskyi in the 53rd minute in Lyon, but Iraq were soon given the chance to level from the penalty spot.

Aymen Hussein converted in the 56th before Ali hit the winner in the 75th.

Nearly 20 years after their last football win at the Olympics, Iraq staged an epic comeback. After a tense back and forth, midfielder Jasim emerged as the hero, repeating his late-game heroics that propelled his squad to the Paris Games in the first place.

Ukraine were making their Olympics football debut. They will face Morocco on Saturday, while Iraq will take on Argentina, who will have a point to prove after their chaotic defeat to Morocco, on the same day to round out Group B play.

Meanwhile, Egypt and the Dominican Republic played out a goalless draw in Group C at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

Egypt survived an early scare when Dominican Republic had a goal ruled out on 13 minutes for a foul on Hossam Abdelmaguid in the build-up.

Egypt have been to the Olympics 13 times, the most by an African nation, but have never finished higher than fourth. They made the quarter-finals at the Tokyo Games.

Egypt now sit second in the group with one point, two behind leaders Spain. They face Uzbekistan in their next game on Saturday.