Qatar Football AssociationNational Teams | U-23
15.01.2018 14:44 in : &

CHANGZHOU: Duhail striker Almoez Ali on Monday produced a sterling

performance to guide Qatar to the quarter-finals of the AFC U-23 Asian

Cup after a 2-1 victory over host nation China at the Changzhou Olympic

Sports Centre on Monday.

struck in both halves following Yao Junsheng’s early effort, to send his

team through to the last eight alongside second-placed Uzbekistan, while

the host nation, who had captain He Chao sent off, were eliminated from

the competition.

Coached by Felix Sanchez, Qatar finished the group stage of the 16-team

tournament with a full mark of 9 points from three matches.

China finished with 3 points having lost to Uzbekistan last Friday.

Ali scored once in each half as Qatar secured their last-eight berth in what

were chilly playing conditions.

Yao Junsheng’s effort had given China an early lead but a resolute Qatar

side hit back with two goals. Uzbekistan are the other side to qualify for

the quarter finals leaving hosts China out of the tournament.

The host nation also saw their captain He Chao sent off on Monday.

In a frenetic start to proceedings, China were ahead after only four minutes.

Deng Hangwen did well to outmuscle defender Sultan Al Brake deep inside

the Qatar penalty area, before finding Yao who deflected the ball home from

close range.

Qatar’s response was swift as Al Anabi scored twice to seal their hard-fought

win.

With Qatar slowly beginning to gain a degree of control, disaster was to strike

China on 41 minutes when captain He was handed a second yellow card by

referee Alireza Faghani following a foul on midfielder Akram Afif.

From the resulting free-kick, Bassam Al Rawi rattled the crossbar with a stinging

effort, before parity was restored in the dying embers of a fascinating first period

courtesy of Almoez’s deft header from a sublime Afif cross.

In the second half, China’s hopes of a comeback were quashed when Ali found

the net for the second time in the match from close range. Tameem Al Muhaza

provided the cross for Ali to score Qatar’s winning goal.

Qatar started the tournament by beating Uzbekistan 1-0 followed by a similar

scoreline against Oman.