(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Qatar squad poses for photographs before the start of the Group C clash last night. No fewer than eight players scored for the home side.
BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Hosts Qatar registered their biggest ever win yesterday when they crushed lowly-ranked Bhutan 15-0 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying match at Al Sadd Stadium.
No fewer than eight players scored for the home side who now have a tally of six points after their two games one less than table-topping Hong Kong who yesterday played a goalless away in China.
A hat-trick of goals by Mohammed Muntari (37 41 and 48) and Ali Asadallah (21 45 and 63) headlined a Qatar goal glut in the Group C encounter at Al Sadd Stadium where they visitors failed miserably.
A brace each by Mohammed Musa (28 and 8) captain Hassan Al Haydos (25 and 87) and Boualem Khoukhi (62 and 70) saw Qatar pile on the misery for Bhutan who presented static defense most of the time.
Mohammed Kasola (18) Akram Hassan (57) and Ismail Mohammed (75) also got their names on the scorer’s list yesterday as Bhutan - ranked 168 on the FIFA computer - did little to impress their fans at Al Sadd Stadium.
Qatar’s previous best was a couple of 8-0 wins which they had recorded against both Afghanistan and Lebanon in the 1980s.
For Bhutan who were once beaten 20-0 by Kuwait it was a night to forget.
Yesterday’s win was a welcome relief for Qatar coach Daniel Carreno who saw his side struggle against Maldives in their opening qualifying game in June. Qatar scored in 99th minute in that win over Maldives three months ago.
For Bhutan’s Japanese coach Norio Tsukitate - who was occasionally seen with his Ipad during the game - it was a game to forget as Qatar injected passion and purpose into their qualifying campaign.
Qatar midfielder Abdulrehman Mohammed said with a smile: “We took this game very seriously. We are obviously very happy but we put pressure from the first minute and that’s why kept scoring the goals.”
Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos scores one of his two goals against Bhutan in a 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying match at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha yesterday. Qatar won 15-0 their biggest ever victory in an international game.
A weak snap-header by Muntari in the second minute off a pass from the flank suggested a cagey start to the home team’s cause but things changed dramatically moments later.
Bhutan’s coach watched from the sidelines as Qatar put pressure on the visitors with well combined moves.
Defender Abdelkarim Hassan - who was later to miss a penalty - despite being shadowed by Jigme Tshering Dorjee slipped a left-footed drive from close range but his shot flew over the Bhutan crossbar in the fifth minute.
Qatar opened the scoring in the 8th minute. Musa produced a solo burst from the half line and despite being chased by Bhutan’s Biren Basnet the home side’s tall defender charged towards the goal and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Hari Gurung for his side’s first goal. In the 16th minute defender Musa went long-range with his powerful shot but the ball slipped past the Bhutan goalpost.
Two minutes later Qatar went 2-0 up as Kasola found the back of the net with a header. An airborne Kasola jumped higher than Bhutan midfielder Basnet and headed home with a slick finish.
Two minutes later it was 3-0 as an unmarked Asadallah deflected a ball into the Bhutan net after receiving a pass from defender Musa who had moved closer to the visitors’ box with a quick burst.
In the 25th minute captain Al Haydos struck gold from close range as he fired past Bhutan goalkeeper Gurung for his side’s fourth goal.
Musa in the 28th minute went to the right of the Bhutan goalkeeper for his team’s fifth goal despite being under pressure from defender Kuenga Gyeltshen.
With five minutes to go for the first-half whistle Muntari scored Qatar’s sixth goal from close range after receiving the ball from Haydos.
The Qatar captain - lurking near the Bhutan box - chipped the ball to unmarked Muntari who slipped the ball past Gurung to complete’s Qatar’s seventh goal.
Asadullah added his second and Qatar’s eighth as the clock struck 45th minute with a shot that went through goalkeeper Gurung’s hands.
In the 48th minute substitute Hassan found an unmarked Muntari lurking close to the Bhutan goalmouth. Muntari quickly deflected the ball into the visitor’s net for Qatar’s 9th goal.
In the 52nd minute Abdelkarim missed a penalty hitting the ball to the right of the goalkeeper Gurung who - in a rare inspired move - pouched the ball.
Three minutes from the hour mark substitute Afif slipped the ball past goalkeeper Gurung for Qatar’s 10th goal.
Seconds later Carreno benched Karim who provided the ball to Afif for Qatar’s 10th goal. Khaled Muftah walked in to replace Karim who had missed the penalty minutes earlier.
In the 62nd minute Khoukhi also joined the scorer’s list slotting the ball past goalkeeper Gurung for Qatar’s 11th goal.
Barely a minute later Asadallah scored his third and Qatar’s 12th goal after a neat dribble in the Bhutan box.
In the 70th minute Khouki added his second and Qatar’s 13th with the gentlest of pushes into the net from close range following a pass from the midfield.
In The 75th minute substitute striker Mohamad fired one home from close range as Qatar fans celebrated 14th goal.
A couple of minutes later in what could be described as freak move substitute Kinley Wangchuk clipped the Qatar crossbar as Bhutan wasted an easy chance to score in the lop-sided clash. Qatar captain Al Haydos added to goalkeeper’s horror show by slotting home with a left-footed placement in the 87th minute as the home team went 15-0 up.