AFC/TNN
Doha
Qatar extended their unbeaten run as goals from Akram Afif and Almoez Ali' helped Al Annabi to a 2-1 win over Oman at the Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.
The Group E clash for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Qualifiers marked a sixth meeting in qualifying for both teams -- Qatar are yet to lose to their neighbours with four wins and two draws over the period. Qatar lead the group with 10 points and Oman remain second on six but have played a game less.
Al Annabi, playing for an Asian Cup spot having already secured World Cup qualification as hosts, came out swinging from kick off. Afif opened the scoring after three minutes in a match where the hosts failed to take advantage of several goalscoring opportunities.
The fleet-footed Al Sadd man was on hand to finish a low cross into the box from youngster Yusuf Abdurisag from 15 yards out.
Oman, getting an early look at one of the stadiums they hope to return to at the 2022 World Cup, conjured an equally clear-cut scoring chance almost immediately, but Abdulaziz al Maqbali’s shot at goal was denied by a terrific save from Qatari goalkeeper Saad al Sheeb, who kept the hosts ahead in the seventh minute.
Some last ditch defending from Amran Said Al Hidi deflected a seemingly goal bound Ali effort over the crossbar, before the influential Afif was involved in another key moment, winning a penalty kick after being fouled by goalkeeper Faiyz Al Rushedi, only for Hassan Al Haydos to miss the target from the spot kick.
With Afif the chief creator, Ali’s bid for a fourth Asian Qualifiers goal continued, but he was off target on three further occasions in the latter stages of the first half, which ended with Qatar’s 1-0 lead still in place.
Oman soon made Qatar pay for all the missed chances 20 minutes into the second half. Al Mandhar al Alawi showed grit and composure to bully his way past the Qatar defence before letting fly from close range but Saad al Dosari will be kicking himself as the ball went past under his body.
Al Haydos’ woes in front of goal continued when he failed to get a shot off from an excellent position, but Ali’s, and Qatar’s, fortunes turned dramatically when he sensationally picked out the bottom corner of Al Rusheidi’s net from the edge of the box in the 72nd minute, with the ever-present Afif playing his part with a return pass to the star striker.
With their status as group leaders now firmly entrenched, Qatar will sit out Matchday Five, while Oman will look to reduce the deficit to a single point when they meet Bangladesh on November 14.
In the other group game, Adil Khan's 88th minutes goal rescued one point for India against Bangladesh at the Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt Lake Stadium) in Kolkata. Saad Uddin had put Bangladesh ahead just before half time. India sit fourth in the group, while Bangladesh are bottom and Afghanistan in third.
