Qatar, Syria play to draw in International Friendship Championship
Basra, March 25, 2018-Qatar played out an exciting 2-2 draw with Syria in their second match in the International Friendship Championship at Basra Sport City Stadium in Iraq on Saturday.
The result meant Qatar, coached by Felix Sanchez, can win the title if Iraq beat or hold Syria on Tuesday. Syria need a victory by a two-goal margin to emerge as champions while Iraq's hopes are over in the tournament organised to celebrate after FIFA lifted the long-standing ban on the country hosting international matches.
Qatar were definitely the better of the sides in the first half, but they could not test Syrian goalkeeper Ibrahim Alma.
At the other end, Syria drew a couple of saves from Mohammed Al Bakri, who came in place of Saad Al Sheeb, through Firas Al Khatib.
Al Khatib's left-footed volley in the 24th minute was tipped over by Al Bakri, who did well again in the 38th to parry a difficult shot from the same player.
However, the young Qatari keeper found himself in no man's land when Omar Al Somah ran down Mohammed Alaaeldin's intended back pass and rounded him before slotting the ball into an empty net.
The goal rattled Qatar who struggled defensively for a brief period, but they regained their composure and came back strongly through Abdulaziz Hatem.
Hatem had tested Al Bakri with a fierce left-footer in the 56th minute, which the goalkeeper saved with some difficulty, but there was no stopping him two minutes later when he met Abdulkarim Hassan's cutback into the edge of the area with a sweetly-timed left-footer.
Qatar had the momentum and soon had another big chance as Almoez Ali cut through Syria defence with ease, but Hatem, for once failed to pull the trigger on time and the opportunity was lost.
Abdulkarim then showed his attacking instinct when he laid a perfectly waited pass for Akram Afif and the two-goal hero against Iraq took his chance well, placing his left-footer just inside the far post in the 71st.
The joy was short lived as Syria scored an almost identical goal, through Zahir Al Midani, a minute later.
The match turned a bit rough after that and even though Qatar continued to enjoy a slight they could not breach the Syrian defence.
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