TNN/Agencies
Doha
Inform Akram Afif was on target again as defending champions and hosts Qatar beat Tajikistan 1-0 at the Al Bayt Stadium to become the first team to make it to the Round of 16 of the AFC Asian Cup 2023 on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, China’s 0-0 draw with Lebanon meant Qatar are guaranteed to go through to the knockout round as Group A winners.
Livewire winger Afif, who scored twice in Qatar’s opening 3-0 victory over Lebanon, hit the winner midway through the first half in front of 57,460 fans.
Asian Cup debutants Tajikistan, who promised to be aggressive were left defending for most part of the match against a rampaging Qatar, who could have well scored another goal.
Tajikistan also finished with 10 men after Amadoni Kamolov was sent off for kicking out at Ahmed Al Ganehi’s face late in the game, the first dismissal of the tournament.
A pleased Qatar coach Marquez Lopez said, "I’m very pleased to qualify after two matches.
"It was a difficult game but we always knew it would be. We played against a tough, strong team, but we didn’t give them the chance to score.”
The big home crowd was provided with the goal delight early when Afif sprinted onto a through ball from Almoez Ali in the 17th minute before moving it deftly past goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov for another clinical finish.
"Almoez is one of my best friends and we understand each other very well,” Afif said of his partnership with Ali, who scored a record nine goals as Qatar won the title for the first time in 2019.
"We have been playing together for a long time so we understand what each other is going to do just with a look.
"We hope the best is still yet to come.”
Qatar thought they had earned a spot-kick in the 33rd minute after an altercation between Ali and Manuchehr Safarov but after a VAR check, referee Kimura Hiroyuki Kimura awarded Tajikistan a free-kick.
The Maroons had another opportunity just before the break when Yatimov spilled Afif’s shot but defender Zoir Dzhuraboev produced an outstanding goalline clearance to deny Ali who had pounced on the rebound.
Qatar survived a scare three minutes into the second half, a foot race between Alisher Dzhalilov and custodian Meshaal Barsham saw the Tajikistan forward getting to the ball first but with the goalmouth gaping, a heavy first touch took the chance away.
Qatar spurned two chances just before the hour mark, Ahmed Al Ganehi blazing his shot over from just inside the box and Ali then denied by Yatimov’s big frame.
Tajikistan’s hopes were undone in the 81st minute when Amadoni Kamalov had his yellow card changed to a red after a VAR check determined he had kicked out at Al Ganehi after he was bundled to the ground by Mohammed Al Bayati.
Analyzing the contest, Marquez said, "Every match is difficult and you are talking about the Asian Cup. The opposition started with high pressure but we were able to handle that.
"We had a problem with possession at the start but we controlled the match and achieved what we wanted to achieve.”
Tajikistan coach Petar Segrt knows that their final group game against Lebanon on Monday is "all or nothing”.
"Everybody makes compliments to me, you can give compliments to Tajikistan, but at the end, the result is important,” he said.
Qatar will look for their 10th consecutive AFC Asian Cup win when they face China while Tajikistan will have to defeat Lebanon on Monday if they are to stand a chance of advancing.Afif strikes as Al Annabi become the first team to make knockouts