An unidentified Iraqi player sits on the field and prays after 1-0 victory over South Korea in the Asian Games Soccer Men's semifinals in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) 
Iraq's Samer Mujbel (8) holds up an Iraqi national flag to cheering crowds as he celebrates 1-0 victory over South Korea with teammates in the Asian Games Soccer Men's semifinals in Doha, Qatar, Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2006. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili) ---
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqis celebrated with gunfire and cheers in Baghdad on Tuesday after the national soccer team advanced to the final at the Asian Games.
Iraq defeated South Korea 1-0 Tuesday in the semifinal, and will compete Friday against host Qatar for its first gold medal in soccer in more than two decades.
Qatar upset defending champion Iran 2-0 in the other semifinal.
The victory offered some relief from the daily violence in their country.
"All of us gathered in one home to enjoy watching our team, such a result will make everybody happy, despite the hard security situation," Iraqi tennis player Akram Mustafa Abdul Karim said.
Iraq scored 24 minutes into the game, when Ahmed Mohammed slipped a long pass beyond Kim Chi-gon to captain Younes Khalef, who raced down the field and faked out the keeper only to have his shot blocked by defender Kim Jin-kyu.
Samer Mujabel picked up the deflection and headed it for the goal.
Salam Abdul Wahed owns a convenience store in Diwaniyah, 80 miles south of the capital. He plans to follow through with a promise to treat his friends to lunch if the team won.
"It's hard to imagine my feelings, unbelievable," he said. "Anyhow, I shot several shots into the air with my pistol after my wife refused to let me use my rifle."
Iraq defeated South Korea 1-0 Tuesday in the semifinal, and will compete Friday against host Qatar for its first gold medal in soccer in more than two decades.
Qatar upset defending champion Iran 2-0 in the other semifinal.
The victory offered some relief from the daily violence in their country.
"All of us gathered in one home to enjoy watching our team, such a result will make everybody happy, despite the hard security situation," Iraqi tennis player Akram Mustafa Abdul Karim said.
Iraq scored 24 minutes into the game, when Ahmed Mohammed slipped a long pass beyond Kim Chi-gon to captain Younes Khalef, who raced down the field and faked out the keeper only to have his shot blocked by defender Kim Jin-kyu.
Samer Mujabel picked up the deflection and headed it for the goal.
Salam Abdul Wahed owns a convenience store in Diwaniyah, 80 miles south of the capital. He plans to follow through with a promise to treat his friends to lunch if the team won.
"It's hard to imagine my feelings, unbelievable," he said. "Anyhow, I shot several shots into the air with my pistol after my wife refused to let me use my rifle."
