The visitors win at the Olympic Center Stadium in Tianjin means they will now battle it out with Qatar to see who qualifies along with Australia for the final stage.

Zhou Haiban opened the scoring for the hosts but Emad Ridha hit back for Iraq before Nashat Akram's 67th minute winner.

The result was Iraq's second successive win, following their 1-0 home victory over Australia and, after a poor start, they have a realistic chance of progressing from Asian World Cup Qualifying Group One.

China goalkeeper Song Zhenyu was tested as early as the second minute when Younis Mahmoud forced him into a save after breaking through the home side's defence.

Vladimir Petrovic's side responded quickly and Han Peng saw his effort hacked off the line by Hawar Mulla Mohammed.

That was the Iraqi captain's only telling contribution as he was forced to leave the action with a thigh strain on 12 minutes

Shortly after the half hour mark referee Abdul Malik Bashir gave China an indirect free kick six yards from the visitors goal when Noor Sabri Abbas picked up Qusai Munir's backpass.

China made the most of this unusual opportunity as Zheng Zhi fed Zhou who drilled the ball beyond Sabri.

The Iraqis levelled four minutes before the break when Ridha headed home Saleh Sadir's left wing cross.

And a quiet second half sprung to life on with 23 minutes remaining when Akram exquisitely settled the match

The playmaker, who has been linked with a host of European clubs, collected the ball on the edge of the Chinese penalty area, dribbled past Feng Xiaoting and fired the home low to Song's right.

Han continued to be China's biggest threat and came close to finding the equaliser with two headed efforts.

On 68 minutes Saad Hafidh cleared off the line with Sabri beaten, before the Iraqi goalkeeper gratefully clung on to Han's 71st minute attempt and the Asian Cup holders held on for a priceless victory