Courageous Qatar edge past Russia 2-1 in Doha

Friday, November 11th 2016 01:59 PM

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DOHA: Qatar on Thursday fought back from a goal down to beat Russia 2-1 in an international friendly played under lights at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

Boualem Khoukhi (35, penalty) and Karim Boudiaf (724) scored for Qatar, hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

For Russia - hosts of the 2018 FIFA World Cup - Samedov Alxander had given the visitors the lead in the 5th-minute penalty.

In the third minute, Qatar defender Mohammed Musa brought down Russia's Kombarov Dmitry close to the spot kick and Pavel Balaj, the Romanian referee, quickly pointed to the penalty spot.

Alxander easily converted the penalty, slotting the ball past Qatar goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb's left.

Close to the half-hour mark, the home fans saw Qatar's Ibrahim Majid - the captain - miss a penalty kick, hitting the ball wide of the Russian goalpost.

In the 34th minute, Igor brought down Ahmed Alaa - who was waiting on a loopy ball from the midfield - just a few feet away from the Russian goal-line.

Referee Pavel correctly awarded Qatar their second penalty in the first half and this time Khoukhi easily scored from the spot kick in the 35th minute.

In the 72nd minute, Tabata curled in a beautifully-taken corner kick which was deflected in by Boudiaf with a snap-header past substitute goalkeeper Stanislav Kritsyuk.

Boudiaf, who jumped high in the air, headed from the right side of the box to the centre of the goal.

In the 83rd minute, Qatar's Tabata - assisted by fellow striker Hasan Al Haydos - fired a stinging missile from long range but his shot was blocked by Kritsyuk with a dive to his left.

Four minutes later, Russia's Aleksandr Kokorin failed to score off a penalty kick as Qatar goalkeeper Al Sheeb blocked the shot with a dive.

Qatar now leave for China for their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match on November 15.

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