13 Jan 2016
Doha, 13 January 2016. Qatar got off to a great start in the AFC U-23 Championship on Tuesday evening, beating China 3-1 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
An enthusiastic crowd – including hundreds of student athletes and members of Aspire staff – saw the host come back into the game after a 0-1 score at half-time, which was accredited to a superb free kick from Guangzhou Evergrande’s Liao Lisheng.
But the tables turned in the second half in favour of the Qatari players, most of whom had graduated from the Aspire Academy. After captain Abdelkarim Hassan headed home a 65th-minute corner to level the tie, the 22-year-old left-back from Al Sadd netted a goal seven minutes later and then substitute Ahmed Alaa-eldin added a third goal within the final 10 minutes, securing all three points for Felix Sanchez’s side.
“In the first half we started a little nervously. Maybe this was because it was the first game, which we know is always difficult. But in the second half we had more control, and we were also more effective. In general we played a good game, we were well organized and we are now looking forward to the next game”, said Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez.
Qatar’s next opponents on the road to Rio are Iran (Friday, January 15 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, kick-off at 7.30pm) and Syria (Monday, January 18 at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, kick-off at 7.30pm).
See the highlights of the game here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYaKC4jKODM
U-23 AFC Championship, Matchday 1, Group A
Qatar vs. China 3-1 (0-1)
Goals: Abdelkarim Hassan (66’, 72’), Ahmed Alaa-eldin (82’); Liao Lisheng (43’).
Qatar U23 played with: Naim; Fadalla, Abdelkarim Hassan, Almuhaza, Khdir; Moein, Madibo (Hassaba 83’); Fahad, Abdulla (Alaa-eldin 80’), Afif; Muntari (Thaimm 45’).