BASRA: Iraq hosted Qatar in the first match of the Three-Nation tournament which kicked off in Basra on Wednesday. The friendly tournament comes just days after FIFA lifted a decades-long ban on Iraq hosting competitive matches. And while there was an air of celebration, the hosts went down 3-2 to their opposition. Two first-half goals from Afif Akram either side of Iraqi Ahmed Yassin’s 31st minute strike gave the Qataris a two-goal lead at half-time before Abdullah Almoez Ali Zainalabiddin extended the visitor’s lead. Ali Wahid Hussein’s goal midway through the second half brought Iraq back into the match, but there was no late equalizer. Iraq lead the head-to-head record against Qatar in friendlies with nine wins to four after the result. Basim Qasim’s charges had beaten Saudi Arabia 4-1 in a friendly on March 1 with Mohanad Ali Kadhim finding the net twice against the Green Falcons. In their last meeting, Iraq beat Qatar 2-1 in the Gulf Cup in December.