17 Jan 2019
Abu Dhabi, 17 January 2019. Qatar’s football national team finished the preliminary round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup on top of Group E after beating Saudi Arabia 2-0 on Thursday evening. In the last 16, they are going to face Iraq on Tuesday.
Almoez Ali, one of six Aspire Academy-graduates in the starting XI of coach Felix Sanchez, opened the scoring for Qatar just seconds before half-time (45’) with a right-footed shot from the centre of the box, making it through the bottom right corner. He followed it up with a header from close range following a brilliant cross by Abdelaziz Hatim (80’).
Before today's game, the 22-year-old had scored five goals in the competition. His brace today means he's the first player to score seven goals in the group stage since the year 2000.
Before defeating Saudi Arabia, the Maroons beat Lebanon 2-0 in their opening group match, before thrashing North Korea 6-0. Next, Qatar will now face Iraq in the last 16 on Tuesday.