18 Oct 2016
Manama, 18 October 2016. Substitute Abdulrasheed Umaru scored the all important solitary goal that gave Qatar U-19 national team victory over Yemen and kept alive Qatar the defending champions of the AFC U-19 Championship within a chance of progressing to the knockout stage of the 2016 AFC U-19 Championship in Bahrain.
The win brought Qatar’s points tally to (4) and victory in last group game against Japan on Thursday, October 20th will ensure passage to quarter finals. A draw will leave Qatar waiting on result from the other group match, Iran against Yemen to determine the top two positions in Group C.
Abdulrasheed Umaru came off the substitute’s bench against Yemen on Monday night at the Bahrain National Stadium. His pace, strength and accuracy in front of goal proved the difference in the end but the talented told the website AFC.com afterwards, teamwork was behind the goal.
“I could not have scored without the support of my teammates. When I came off the bench in the second half, my teammates gave me a lot of confidence and support and this was the only reason that I could score the goal. Yemen is a good team and they have some individually talented players. We knew that it will not be an easy game and we will have to put our hearts out to get three points from this match.”
When asked about his team’s chances against formidable Japan in the final Group C fixture, Abdulrasheed said: “If the coach puts his plans well, as he always does, and puts up the best starting eleven, then anything is possible. We are not eyeing anything less than a victory, which will take us to the top of the group. None of my teammates feel any kind of pressure as the defending champions. Everyone maintains calm and each one of us knows the role he has to play on the field,” said Abdulrasheed Umaru.