DOHA: Qatar Under-19s have been crowned champions of the Aspire international youth tournament after beating Chile in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in the final on Tuesday.
At the Aspire academy playground, with no extra-time played at this level, the final went straight to penalties and Felix Sanchez's Qatar romped home 5-4 in the shoot-out
Muiz Ali scored Qatar's goal as the match finished 1-1 in normal time, and Sultan Al Bereik scored the winning penalty as Qatar claimed the title they last won back in 2011.
Following a cagey first ten minutes, Qatar appeared the more threatening side, with the South Americans reduced to hopeful punts forward and it was against the run of play when they opened the scoring right on the stroke of half-time through Christian Sepaz.
After the interval, winger Muiz Ali equalized through a confidently taken volley for Qatar after he was set up by Ahmed Al Saadi on 54 minutes.
Neither side showed urgency going forward in the remaining portion of the second half, and a penalty shoot-out looked inevitable long before the final whistle.
Ahmed Al Saadi, Ahmed Mueen, Tareq Sulieman, Abdullah Abdulsalam and Sultan Al Bereik were all on target as Qatar clinched the title in their way of the Asian U-19 championship in Myanmar next month.
It is worth noting Morocco finished third after beating New Zeeland.
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