DOHA, Dec. 15 (Xinhua) -- Host Qatar beat Iraq 1-0 to win the gold medal of the men's soccer final, the last competition event at the Doha Asian Games here on Friday.

    After the kickoff at the Al Saad Foot Stadium with a full capacity of 12,000 seats, Qatar almost opened the accounting in the seventh minute when midfielder Abdulmajid Wesam Rizik swung his header against the bar.

    And the Iraqis failed to have a shot on the goal in the first half.

    After the break, the Qatari players intensified their efforts for the goal, and were eventually paid in the 63rd minute when midfielder Rajab Bilal Mohemmed powered home the ball with a header off a corner.

    Minutes later, the hosts had another goal, which was whistled off-side.

    Manhel Yahya, coach of Qatar, said he was very glad over the gold medal, adding that "it is a very good experience for the future, but Qatar needs to be better and stronger if it wants to go to play in World Cup."

    Iraqi coach Musovic Dzemaludin admitted that it was "a very good start" for Iraqi soccer as it was almost to be a "miracle" for Iraq to end up with the sliver medal.