Soccer-Iraq eliminated after goalless draw with New Zealand

JOHANNESBURG, June 20 (Reuters) - Iraq and New Zealand played out a 0-0 draw as both teams said farewell to the Confederations Cup on Saturday having failed to score a goal between them in any of their three Group A games.

Iraq, needing a win to have any chance of overhauling hosts South Africa and taking the runners-up spot and a place in the semi-finals behind group winners Spain, were more adventurous than in their opening matches but rarely looked like scoring.

New Zealand, already eliminated after losing their first two games, had several first-half chances but faded after the break, though they did earn their first point in a Confederations Cup after losing all their previous six matches, in 1999 and 2003.

The match ended the short stint of Bora Milutinovic as Iraq coach with the Asian champions already eliminated from the World Cup. New Zealand could return to South Africa for the finals if they win a playoff against an as yet unknown Asian opponent.

(Reporting by Mike Collett, editing by Ken Ferris

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