Ahmed scores 2 to sink China
Source: Agencies |
January 14, 2011, Friday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
YOUSEF Ahmed scored twice to give Qatar a 2-0 win over China on Wednesday and boost the host nation's chances of advancing to the knockout round of the Asian Cup.
Meanwhile, three-time champion Saudi Arabia made a humiliating exit from the Asian Cup yesterday after losing to Jordan 0-1 in its second Group B match.
The Saudis fired coach Jose Peseiro following the opening loss to Syria, but bringing in Nasser al-Johar for his fifth stint in charge failed to turn things around.
Despite dominating the first half, Saudi Arabia went behind in the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah allowed Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left to float over his head and into the corner of the net.
The night before, Ahmed gave Qatar the lead in the 27th minute and added the second in first-half injury time.
Qatar needed a win after losing its first match and went on the attack from the start, repeatedly breaking down China's defense in the opening 30 minutes.
China, which beat Kuwait in its opening Group A match, could not regroup in the second half against Qatar.
"We showed the real face of the Qatar team in this match," Qatar coach Burno Metsu said. "I am very proud of their strong performance and we will try to do the same against Kuwait and advance to the quarterfinals."
Qatar has billed the continental tournament as a test run for the 2022 World Cup, awarded to the tiny, oil-rich Gulf nation last month. Matsu's squad had come under fire after losing the tournament's opening match to face an early exit.
There was no other choice but to win against China, the French coach said.
"We gave our best and scored two goals and, although we missed many chances after that, I was happy," Matsu said.
China coach Gao Hongbo said he was satisfied with the overall performance of a squad that has some of the youngest and least experienced players in the tournament. Gao blamed China's malfunctioning attack for the defeat.
"We did not apply enough pressure in the game, so Qatar was able to organize attacks easily," said Gao, adding that, with no player over 30, the match was still "a good experience for our young team.
"Our players can learn from this match. We lost the game, but losing is part of playing and we can do better in the next game, which is more important to us."
China will next play Uzbekistan.
Meanwhile, three-time champion Saudi Arabia made a humiliating exit from the Asian Cup yesterday after losing to Jordan 0-1 in its second Group B match.
The Saudis fired coach Jose Peseiro following the opening loss to Syria, but bringing in Nasser al-Johar for his fifth stint in charge failed to turn things around.
Despite dominating the first half, Saudi Arabia went behind in the 42nd minute when goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah allowed Baha' Abdelrahman's deep cross from the left to float over his head and into the corner of the net.
The night before, Ahmed gave Qatar the lead in the 27th minute and added the second in first-half injury time.
Qatar needed a win after losing its first match and went on the attack from the start, repeatedly breaking down China's defense in the opening 30 minutes.
China, which beat Kuwait in its opening Group A match, could not regroup in the second half against Qatar.
"We showed the real face of the Qatar team in this match," Qatar coach Burno Metsu said. "I am very proud of their strong performance and we will try to do the same against Kuwait and advance to the quarterfinals."
Qatar has billed the continental tournament as a test run for the 2022 World Cup, awarded to the tiny, oil-rich Gulf nation last month. Matsu's squad had come under fire after losing the tournament's opening match to face an early exit.
There was no other choice but to win against China, the French coach said.
"We gave our best and scored two goals and, although we missed many chances after that, I was happy," Matsu said.
China coach Gao Hongbo said he was satisfied with the overall performance of a squad that has some of the youngest and least experienced players in the tournament. Gao blamed China's malfunctioning attack for the defeat.
"We did not apply enough pressure in the game, so Qatar was able to organize attacks easily," said Gao, adding that, with no player over 30, the match was still "a good experience for our young team.
"Our players can learn from this match. We lost the game, but losing is part of playing and we can do better in the next game, which is more important to us."
China will next play Uzbekistan.
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