VALENCIA, SPAIN: Qatar’s U-19 boys suffered a late 1-2 defeat at the hands

of Morocco in the third round match of the C.O.T.I.F Tournament at Els Arcs

Municipal Stadium, L’ Alcudia.

Following a goalless first half that saw Morocco miss a penalty kick; Sharafa Gharib

scored Morocco’s first on 53 minutes but was soon cancelled out just ten minutes

later when substitute Ahmed Al janahi soared above everyone else to head home a

well executed cross from Ahmed Al Minhali.

Gharib deservedly got his second goal of the evening in added time, the slender

striker headed from close range to hand Qatar a second consecutive defeat in the

group.

This was Qatar’s second loss in the tournament where the maroons who are set to

take on Russia on Thursday.

In a highly physically punishing second half, Qatar dominated proceedings but

a couple of easy misses by Hashim Ali and Mohammed Waad saw the Maroons

failing to score.

Two Uruguay players were booked late in the second half as the winners

tried to hold on to their slender lead.

Qatar features in Group A alongside Uruguay, Russia, Morocco and Valenciana.

The tournament features 10 teams including Argentina, Mauritania,

Morocco and Venezuela.

The COTIF tournament, originally known as L’Alcúdia International

Under-20 Football Tournament, is an annual football competition for

youth teams, open to both clubs and national and autonomous teams.

Qatar is preparing for the AFC U-19 tournament set to take place in

October in Indonesia.

The Qatar squad will continue their preparations following their

return to Doha.

Qatar line-up: Salah, Peer, Youssef Ayman, Yazidi (Nasser Abdulsalam,

65), Murisi (Alganehi, 65), Alnaimi, Waad, Mansour (Minhali, 53), Hamdi

(Hashim, min. 53), Falangi (Yusuf, min 53) and Sebaei.

Morocco line-up: Bellarabi, Bousqal (Ejjaki, min 57), Wahib (Bouzaidi, min

38), Sellak, Tahif, Bahsain, Gharib, Moutarajji (Sanhaji, min 75), Ziadi, Yakiry

and Lachhab (Rabbas, 57).