15 Jan 2018
Changzhou, 15 January 2018. Qatar national U-23 team advanced to the quarter-finals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship after defeating host nation China 2-1 in their final Group A tie played at Changzhou Olympic Sports Center on Monday 15th January. Qatar finished top of the group with maximum nine (9) points from three wins including earlier victories over Uzbekistan and Oman.
Aspire graduate, Almoez Ali struck twice in each half to secure a passage into last eight after China had opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute of play. Deng Hanwen gained possession in Qatar penalty box and laid on for Yao Junsheng to shoot home for the opening goal.
The Qatar U-23 team is made up almost entirely of Aspire Academy graduates of which ten (10) of the players were part of U-19 team that won the 2014 AFC Championship in Myanmar enjoyed the better of the exchanges and bossed possession. On 44 minutes, Aspire graduate Akram Afif cleverly evaded the attention of two defenders with an incisive turn before sending a delightful cross to Almoez who glanced it home for the equalizer. Three minutes’ prior, China had gone down to ten men after team captain, He Chao picked up his second yellow for bringing down Afif.
The second half saw Qatar dominate play and created good chances from some enterprising play. Almoez got his and Qatar’s second goal on 77th minute. Picking up a long through ball from Tammem Al Muhaza he controlled and knocked it past advancing goalkeeper before shooting into the net from a difficult angle and in-front of two defenders.
Qatar had chances to add to the score line including attempts that came off the cross bar. Hashim Ali plying the right flank was a constant threat and his runs and mazy dribbles troubled the opposition throughout the second half. In the other Group A match played simultaneously, Uzbekistan joined Qatar into the last eight courtesy of a 1-0 win over Oman.