Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Livewire Qatar striker Almoez Ali has declared that his side are primed and ready to go ahead of Monday’s crucial AFC U23 Championship Group A encounter with China at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center.
Needing only a point to guarantee their progress to the quarter-finals, the Qataris will go into the game as group leaders and favourites to reach the knockout phase thanks to successive victories over Uzbekistan and Oman.
By way of contrast, host nation China, following Friday’s defeat to Uzbekistan, realistically need all three points to keep alive their hopes of reaching the last eight.
With plenty still to play for, Ali believes Qatar have what it takes to get the job done and go through, in spite of the passionate home support that is sure to await them.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Bassam Al Rawi has said that Qatar cannot afford to relax despite Friday’s 1-0 win over Oman putting them in a commanding position at the top of the AFC U23 Championship 2018 Group A standings.
The hard-fought victory, coupled with Qatar’s earlier defeat of Uzbekistan by a similar scoreline, leaves the West Asians flying high at the summit and within touching distance of a place in the quarter-finals.
However, despite his side’s fine run of form, and with a final group stage game still to come against China on Monday, Al Rawi insists that nothing has been achieved just yet.
“We played well versus Oman, we gave our best and we got the three points,” said the talented Al Duhail defender who was a member of the Qatar squad at the 2016 edition of the AFC U23 Championship.
“At this stage (of the tournament), we always play to win and to get those all-important three points.
“We have six points, but that doesn't mean we have qualified. We need to take three points against China.”
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: A neat Akram Afif finish edged Qatar closer to a quarter-final berth at the AFC U23 Championship 2018 on Friday thanks to a narrow 1-0 win over regional rivals Oman at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center.
With one round of matches still to play, the victory lifts Qatar to top spot in Group A on six points, three ahead of both host nation China PR and Uzbekistan, while Oman are fourth and still searching for their first points of the tournament. Uzbekistan beat China 1-0 in the day's earlier match.
In a first half of few genuine chances, Qatar threatened first when Afif curled an early shot wide, before Oman midfielder Jameel Al Yahmadi released Muhsen Al Ghassani who could only screw his 22nd minute shot wide of Ibrahim Al Mukhaini’s right hand post when through on goal.
Al Mukhaini was then forced into action some 10 minutes later, the custodian reacting well to tip a firm Bassam Al Rawi header over the bar following Ahmad Moein’s pinpoint free-kick.
Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Changzhou: Almoez Ali’s second half strike proved the difference as Qatar recorded a narrow 1-0 win over Uzbekistan in their AFC U23 Championship 2018 opener at the Changzhou Olympic Sports Center on Tuesday.
The Al Duhail forward’s goal leaves Qatar second in Group A behind table-topping China PR who beat Oman 3-0 in the day’s earlier game.
In a closely fought first half, it was Uzbekistan who dominated the early proceedings, Zabikhillo Urinboev firing inches over following a neat interchange of passes with Dostonbek Khamdamov on the edge of the area after 14 minutes.
Qatar responded well however, with dynamic captain Ahmad Moein, a member of the squad when his country finished fourth at the tournament’s last edition in 2016, fizzing a shot narrowly wide shortly after the half hour mark.
With Qatar clearly growing in confidence, midfielder Salem Al Hajri then rattled the Uzbekistan bar courtesy of a rasping drive from distance as the opening period came to an entertaining close.