Columbus Crew SC midfielder Justin Meram and Iraq booked their place in the Asian Cup knockout round on Tuesday, defeating Palestine 2-0 in the Group D finale to advance to a quarterfinal against Iran on Friday.
Meram recorded his first start of the tournament against Palestine, helping pace Iraq to a 1-0 lead before being subbed off in the 68th minute. Iraq iced the game in the 88th minute, doubling its advantage to secure victory and clinch second-place in Group D with a 2-1-0 record.
Meram appeared in all three of Iraq’s group stage games, coming off the bench in the team’s 1-0 win over Group D third-place finishers Jordan and in the team’s 1-0 loss to group winners Japan last week.
Born and raised in Michigan to Iraqi parents, the 26-year-old Meram has been a major part of Crew SC since the club selected him in the first round of the 2011 SuperDraft, notching 13 goals and eight assists in 90 regular season games in four seasons with Columbus. He obtained Iraqi citizenship last year, and has made nine international appearances since debuting for the country in November.
The winner of Friday’s Iraq-Iran quarterfinal will face the winner of South Korea-Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup semifinals on January 26.
Meram isn’t the only MLS player to qualify for the Asian Cup quarters; New York Red Bull Designated Player Tim Cahill and hosts Australia finished second in Group A, and will face China in the quarters on Thursday. Meram and Cahill would face off against each other if both Iraq and Australia advance to the tournament final.
