Team Qatar power past Tajikistan to reach last 16
DOHA - Defending champions Qatar defeated Tajikistan 1-0 to become the first side to reach the last 16 of the AFC Asian Cup in front of cheerful home fans at Al Bayt Stadium yesterday.
Akram Afif fired the winner in 17th minute with a fine finish to score his third goal in the tournament after scoring a brace in Qatar’s opening 3-0 victory over Lebanon on Friday.
The home fans finally celebrated at Al Bayt Stadium where Qatar lost back-to-back matches against Ecuador and the Netherlands at the World Cup 2022.
The victory also assured Qatar a top place in Group A after China were held to their second consecutive goalless draw by Lebanon at Al Thumama Stadium earlier yesterday.
“I’m very pleased to qualify after two matches,” said Qatar coach Marquez Lopez, who made five changes in the playing team with regular captain Hassan Al Haydos also starting on the bench.
“It was a difficult game but we always knew it would be. We played against a tough, strong team, but we didn’t give them the chance to score. The opposition started with high pressure but we were able to handle that. We had a problem with possession at the start but we controlled the match and achieved what we wanted to achieve,” he added.
The star Qatar duo of Afif and striker Almoez Ali once again made a difference creating pressure on Tajikistan through the match and it was the latter, who set up the in-form forward for the decisive goal to send most of the 57,460 spectators at the venue into raptures.
“Almoez is one of my best friends and we understand each other very well. We have been playing together for a long time so we understand what each other is going to do just with a look. We hope the best is still yet to come,” said Afif.
Petar Segrt’s Tajikistan enjoyed strong spells in the match but they lacked execution with a red card – the first of the tournament – to Amadoni Kamolov in 81st minute denting their hopes of making a fightback.
Tajikistan got off to a strong start and put pressure on Qatar's defence in the first 15 minutes of the hotly-contested first half.
The Central Asians had almost took the lead in the 13th minute but Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham made a good save from forward Rustam Soirov’s angular hit on the bottom right corner after a ball from Kamolov.
Qatar reversed the situation soon afterward and were rewarded shortly as Afif raced to pick a through ball from Almoez, chipping it past goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov to continue his goal-scoring spree in the tournament.
The 2019 champions hoped for their second goal after the half-hour mark but a thorough VAR check cleared Manuchekhr Safarov, who appeared to hit Almoez inside the box.
A minute before half-time, Zoir Dzhuraboev rescued Tajikistan from a further deficit blocking a touch by Almoez on a rebound from a close range after the goalkeeper stopped an angular hit from Afif.
Kamolov in one the best chances for Tajikistan in the first half skied the ball from the edge of the box while Afif also had an opportunity to score his second during eight minutes of injury-time but his shot sailed over the bar.
The Segrt’s side got off to a positive start again after the break making several attempts for an equalizer. Striker Alisher Dzhalilov had an opportunity when he prodded the ball past the onrushing Barsham, but he could not catch up to score the goal.
Qatar took charge of the match again mostly because of Afif’s brilliance as he led a move from left of the box but second-half substitute Ahmed Al Ganehi was off target with his left-footed hit.
Shortly, the Tajikistan goalkeeper saved an attempt by Almoez from the centre of the box before Al Haydos came off the bench. Afif and Almoez combined for another attempt at goal but the former’s pass inside the box with only the goalkeeper in front was too fast.
Tajikistan suffered a blow in their bid for a comeback as Kamolov was sent off for kicking out at Al Ganehi’s face with VAR confirming the red-card offense.
Afif could have wrapped up the victory with a goal but his header was saved by the goalkeeper during 11 minutes of injury-time.
Qatar will now look to maintain their perfect record when they meet China in their last group match at Khalifa International Stadium on Monday, while Tajikistan face Lebanon the same day at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium with both sides having a point each hoping to advance to the last 16.
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