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Saudi Arabia Qatar continue winning run
(MENAFN- Arab News)DOHA: Qatar scored an upset 1-0 victory over China in Group C to maintain their impressive run in the Asian World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
Saudi Arabia meanwhile rallied from a goal down to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Jeddah to maintain their unbeaten run.
After Ahmed Khalil had put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute Mohamed Al-Sahlawi equalized for the Saudis on the stroke of half time before scoring from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to grab a brace.
In Doha Karim Boudiaf was the hero as Qatar tightened their grip on Group C with a tense 1-0 victory that put them five points clear at the top.
China's only hope now looks to be by qualifying as one of the four best runners-up from the current group stage.
Thursday's game saw a suitably cautious start but gradually Qatar gained control notably through some fine surges down the right wing from fullback Mohamed Musa.
Their breakthrough came when Boudiaf rose first to a free kick from skipper Hassan Al-Haydos to glance the ball home.
Qatar were comfortable at this stage and it took China until the 29th minute to produce their first effort on goal.
Gradually though China exerted a little more pressure and came close in the 44th minute when a diving header from Yu Dubao forced a fine save from Qatar's Claude Amin.
That set the tone for much of the second half with China increasingly pushing for an equalizer and Qatar looking ever more anxious to close the game out.
China cheered on by a large number of fans in the 7730 crowd at the Al Sadd Stadium went closest through Yu Hanchao's fine volley in the 87th minute which went narrowly wide.
Qatar could have made it 2-0 but Uruguay-born Sebastian Soria fluffed his chance when clean through on goalkeeper Ren Hang.
Qatar coach Jose Daniel Carreno looked worried on the sidelines but his team held on for victory.
Hosts of the World Cup in 2022 Qatar are seeking to avoid becoming the first nation since Italy in 1934 to do so without ever playing in a final beforehand.
Elsewhere in the tournament South Korea secured a narrow 1-0 win over Kuwait while Uzbekistan thrashed Bahrain 4-0.
Only the winners of the group automatically progress to the next stage of qualification where 12 teams will compete for four spots in Russia in three years' time.
Saudi Arabia meanwhile rallied from a goal down to beat the United Arab Emirates 2-1 in Jeddah to maintain their unbeaten run.
After Ahmed Khalil had put the visitors ahead in the 18th minute Mohamed Al-Sahlawi equalized for the Saudis on the stroke of half time before scoring from the penalty spot in the 90th minute to grab a brace.
In Doha Karim Boudiaf was the hero as Qatar tightened their grip on Group C with a tense 1-0 victory that put them five points clear at the top.
China's only hope now looks to be by qualifying as one of the four best runners-up from the current group stage.
Thursday's game saw a suitably cautious start but gradually Qatar gained control notably through some fine surges down the right wing from fullback Mohamed Musa.
Their breakthrough came when Boudiaf rose first to a free kick from skipper Hassan Al-Haydos to glance the ball home.
Qatar were comfortable at this stage and it took China until the 29th minute to produce their first effort on goal.
Gradually though China exerted a little more pressure and came close in the 44th minute when a diving header from Yu Dubao forced a fine save from Qatar's Claude Amin.
That set the tone for much of the second half with China increasingly pushing for an equalizer and Qatar looking ever more anxious to close the game out.
China cheered on by a large number of fans in the 7730 crowd at the Al Sadd Stadium went closest through Yu Hanchao's fine volley in the 87th minute which went narrowly wide.
Qatar could have made it 2-0 but Uruguay-born Sebastian Soria fluffed his chance when clean through on goalkeeper Ren Hang.
Qatar coach Jose Daniel Carreno looked worried on the sidelines but his team held on for victory.
Hosts of the World Cup in 2022 Qatar are seeking to avoid becoming the first nation since Italy in 1934 to do so without ever playing in a final beforehand.
Elsewhere in the tournament South Korea secured a narrow 1-0 win over Kuwait while Uzbekistan thrashed Bahrain 4-0.
Only the winners of the group automatically progress to the next stage of qualification where 12 teams will compete for four spots in Russia in three years' time.
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