Qatar defeat Lebanon in AFC U-19 Qualifiers Opener
DOHA, November 07, 2017- Qatar got their AFC U-19 qualifiers off to a good start beating Lebanon 2-0 at the Al Arabi Stadium in their Group C opener on Monday to set up a mouth-watering clash with Iraq on Wednesday.
F
irst half goals from Hisham Ali saw off the hard-fighting Lebanese team who had lost their opener against Iraq on Saturday.
The withdrawal of Afghanistan meant the group was reduced to three with automatic qualification for the group leader. The top five second-placed team will also qualify for the 16-team main event to be hosted by Indonesia in 2019.
Khaled Mohammed tested the Lebanese goalie in the first minute of the game from a set piece. His ball caught Antoine Aldouaihy napping but the Lebanese goalie gathered after a second attempt.
Lebanon gave Qatar a scare just before the 20th minute mark when striker Daniel Abou Fakher played in a seemingly harmless cross from the right left goalkeeper Shehab scrambling as it grazed the top post.
Daniel missed a sitter for Lebanon after a mazy run down the left by Khalil Bader had opened up the young Maroons and his deflected shot fell in the path of Daniel who placed it wide.
Lebanon grew into the game and stray passes by the home team made their task easier and Fakher again could have made them pay but he dragged his shot just wide.
Qatar defender Ahmed Suhail was lucky not to have been shown a straight red card from a clumsy tackle in front of the referee. A loose ball in midfield saw the visitors try to break but was stopped by a hard tackle from the young defender.
However on the stroke of half time, Hisham Ali put the hosts ahead against the run of play. Lebanon's goalkeeper Khaier faied to hold on to a cross from the left by captain Ahmed Albakheet and the ball fell right in the part of Hisham who calmly slotted home to give Qatar the lead.
Just before the half time whistle, Qatar doubled their advantage from a quick counter attack. Ali picked up a clearance right outside the box and his pass found Abdulrasheed Umaru who with no one to beat returned the favour an Ali tapped in from close range.
The young Maroons began the second half where they left off and could have added to their lead but where thwarted by poor finishing and good defending. Umaru shrugged off his marker but his cutback pass to an umarked Nasser Alahrak was blazed over the bar with the goalie at his mercy. Umaru also had a shot at goal but saw his header well wide off the mark.
Lebanon almost pulled one back as substitute Mahmoud Kawar found space in the box. The striker saw his first shot blocked but latched on to his rebound but his second effort grazed the top corner of Shehab's post.
Aldouaihy produced a fine stop late in the game as Nasser Alahrak turned his man inside and tried to place the ball in the top corner of the post but the young Lebanese goalie was able to parry to safety.
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