Qatar eliminate Iraq for third straight win in FIFA Arab Cup, Oman seal Q-F spot

Qatar’s trio of Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and Hassan Al Haydos came off the bench to defeat Iraq 3-0 and eliminate the four-time winners.

Four-time winners Iraq have been eliminated from the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 by Asian champions Qatar 3-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium on Monday, December 6. In the other Group A match, Oman moved into the quarter final as the Branko Ivanković-coached side blanked Bahrain 3-0 at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, a report in The Peninsula, Qatar, says

Qatar’s trio of Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and Hassan Al Haydos came off the bench to defeat Iraq 3-0 and eliminate the four-time winners .

Iraq, who needed a win against Qatar to advance to the knockout stage, finished third in the group with two points while Bahrain concluded their tournament on the bottom with just one point.   

Substitutes Almoez (82nd minute), Afif (84th) and Al Haydos (90+4) gave the Asian champions late goals after head coach Felix Sanchez started with a youthful side retaining only Bassam Al Rawi and Abdelaziz Hatem in the playing XI.

Following their third consecutive win, Qatar will go into the Friday’s quarter-final against the UAE at the Al Bayt Stadium with a lot of confidence.

UAE confirmed their last-eight berth after finishing behind Tunisia in Group B. 

Enjoying a massive crowd support last night, Qatari youngsters showed good energy but Iraq attacked early through Mohammed Qasim, who entered the box but did not find support.

Desperate for a victory, Iraq repeatedly attacked the Qatari goal but the young Qatari defenders were doing well to avoid the damage. .

Qatar responded with attacks late in the first session with some good moves but the deadlock persisted as players walked into the dugout.

Soon Sanchez sent in Al Haydos and Almoez. Al Haydos soon made his presence felt with a strike from a distance, hitting the bar in the 71st minute.

Almoez heroics followed after exchange of attacks between the two sides as the striker made a solo run defeating several defenders to put the ball past the Iraqi goalkeeper.

Afif, who was introduced in the match in 83rd minute, took only a minute to score, converting a fine ball from near the penalty spot.

At the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, midfielder Al Mandhar Al Alawi scored for Oman in the 41st to give his side a  lead against Bahrain.

Oman came with an improved performance in the second half with Arshad Al Alawi (50’) and Khalid Al Hajri (59’) sealing a brilliant victory.  As Group A runners-up, Oman will meet Group B toppers Tunisia in the quarter-finals at the Education City Stadium on December 10.

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