Jakarta, Indonesia: Coach Bruno Pinheiro insists Qatar can now play with less pressure in the semi-finals of the AFC U-19 Championship after a dramatic 7-3 quarter-final win against Thailand secured qualification the 2019 FIFAU-20 World Cup.   Goals from Hisham Ali, Ahmed Suhail, Nasser Al Yazidi, Ayaman Yousif, Khalid Mansoor and Abdulrasheed Umanu secured victory over Thailand at a raining humid Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on Sunday.  

And with Qatar’s return to the last four of the AFC U-19 Championship for the second time in four years along with a place at next year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup

in Poland, Pinheirois now hoping his side can now relax ahead of Thursday’s semi-final.   “The goal was to reach the World Cup playing good, attacking-based possession football,” said the Portuguese.   “I think we have less pressure going into the semis. We can try and play our game with no pressure and expectations.”   Qatar beat Chinese Taipei 4-0 in their final Group A game to top the table.   “We improved in bits and pieces from Our previous games and at times kept possession well, but we also turned it over too cheaply at times and made unforced errors which gave them chances”.  

“It’s a very proud moment for all of us as a unit, we worked very hard to get where we are, as far as ambition goes, the sky is the limit, and this tournament has so far given me many reasons to be optimistic”.

  Qatar will play the winner of today’s quarter-final between Republic of Korea and Tajikistan.