Vientiane, Laos: Spanish coach Marquez Lopez reflected on Qatar's 2-2 draw with North Korea, describing it as a challenging encounter due to heavy rainfall. Lopez noted that despite the difficult conditions and the uneven pitch at New Laos Football Stadium, Qatar largely controlled the game. “We approached the match with the intent to win, as demonstrated by our attacking strategy. Our performance over both halves indicated our dominance,” Lopez stated on Tuesday. “While we were close to securing all three points, the changing circumstances, particularly the rain, influenced the outcome, making the draw feel like a loss,” he added. Lopez emphasized that Qatar had been the superior team for most of the game. They initially took the lead, but after a North Korean player was sent off, Qatar’s attacking efforts yielded only a first-half lead. In the second half, North Korea equalized from a set piece. Despite being a player up, the heavy rain and North Korea’s defensive setup hampered Qatar’s ability to maintain momentum and secure a win. “Although we now have only one point from two matches, we still have eight games ahead. We are committed to working hard to secure victories and earn the points needed to compete for a strong finish in Group A,” Lopez concluded.