Qatar look to keep unbeaten record

9/9/2015 4:41:26 AM

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)Hong Kong coach Kim Pan-gon and a player speaking at a press conference on the eve of the 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying match against Qatar in Hong Kong yesterday. BOTTOM: Qatar coach Daniel Carreno during a training session yesterday.

HONG KONG: Brimming with confidence following a 15-0 rout of Bhutan three days ago Qatar will be looking to keep their unbeaten record against hosts Hong Kong when they two meet in a 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup joint-qualifying match today.

Qatar crushed Bhutan 15-0 in their match at Al Sadd Stadium on Thursday before taking their flight to Hong Kong where coach Kim Pan-gon’s awaits the Maroons at Mongkok Stadium today.

Coached by Daniel Carreno Qatar have a 5-0 head-to-head record against their hosts Hong Kong.

For the clash today Hong Kong arrive with two home wins and an away draw against China in Shenzhen last week.

Besides tackling the home side playing in familiar conditions Qatar will have to be ready to face the music in front of a packed Mongkok Stadium.

Organisers say all tickets at the compact 6660-seat venue were sold out long ago.

“It’s like the city is on fire as everybody is watching the Hong Kong team” Hong Kong soccer chief Brian Leung Hung-tak was quoted as saying in a report yesterday.

“It proves if we can achieve good results Hong Kong people are always behind us. The match against Qatar will be crucial as we can keep our top position with a draw.”

Hong Kong are likely to make three changes with striker Chan Siu-ki midfielder Lo Kwan-yee and full back Cheung Kin-fung in the starting line-up.

On Thursday in one of the most lop-sided games on the international stage hosts Qatar on Thursday hammered lowly-ranked Bhutan 15-0 at Al Sadd Stadium.

A hat-trick of goals by Mohammed Muntari (37 41 and 48) and Ali Asadalla (21 45 and 63) headlined a Qatar goal glut in the Group C encounter at Al Sadd Stadium.

A brace each by Mohammed Musa (28 and 8) captain Hassan Al Haydos (25 and 87) and Boualem Khoukhi (62 and 70) saw Qatar piled on the misery for Bhutan who looked completely out of sorts in the game.

Mohammed Kasola (18) Akram Hassan (57) and Ismail Mohammed (75) also got their names on the scorer’s list on Thursday.

Thursday’s win was a welcome relief for Qatar 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.

For Bhutan’s Japanese coach Norio Tsukitate - who was seen with his Ipad during the game - it was a game to forget.

Qatar midfielder Abdulrehman Mohammed said: “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.”

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