Qatar outclass Japan to inch closer to QF berth

Qatar grabbed the opportunities that came their way to outclass Japan 3-1 and inch closer to the quarterfinals in the AFC's under-17 football tournament here yesterday.

After being level 1-1, Qatar added two more goals in the second session to score their first win while for the Japanese it was their second successive defeat.

Both Qatar and Japan, who came into the championship with high expectations, took the field knowing very well it was a do-or-die situation for both. For earlier in the evening Syria and Uzbekistan played out a 1-1 draw and virtually assured themselves of qualification.

In a dull first session, the teams shared two goals, and both came as a result of poor defending.

It was Japan which came close in the 10th minute but the flagkick by Takuya Yamamoto went across the goalmouth with the Qatari defence and more importantly Japan's Shunsuke Amano missing the ball completely.

Qatar, as if to punish Japan for that miss scored off the very next minute through their star striker Mousa Majid Al Laq. Mousa, who missed three chances in Qatar's 0-1 loss to Syria, this time got the better of a lethargic Japanese skipper Daiki Niwa to barge into the box and score with a firm shot.

With the Japanese looking a bit jaded, most of the first session was confined to the midfield. The Japanese looked a shade slower than usual while their defence looked shaky.

In fact Japan might have been two down when Katsuya almost scored an own goal while clearing the ball. However, with six minutes for the breather, an ill-directed drive by Takashi was going out when the Qatari goalkeeper dived but failed to collect. The ball rebounded onto the path of Ryota Takahashi who made no mistake to cheer the Japanese crowd in the stands.

Qatar, the most successful team in this level in Asia, earned the initiative immediately after the break when Mohammed Saad Al Sulaity slammed a fine goal. Just 20 seconds into the half Akram Omar Al Anabi found Saad unmarked and pushed the ball across.

The Qatari striker found the right corner from well outside the box to leave Japanese custodian Naoki Hatta totally flummoxed.

After the goal Japan tried their best to score and stay in contention for the third-placed team could also qualify. But Qatar's defence stood firm and with about six minutes from the final whistle it was the Japanese goal that fell. Messaad Ali Al Hamad scored to confirm three full for Qatar and almost assure them of atleast the third place.

In the final matches in this group on Saturday, Uzbekistan take on Qatar and Syria meet Japan. Qatar just need a draw while for Japan to qualify, Qatar should first lose and the Japanese then have to better them by winning with a better goal average.