QFA
Basra (Iraq)
Qatar will get the chance to post another win on Tuesday when they take on Bahrain (9.45pm Doha Time) at the Al Minaa Olympic Stadium in what will be the second clash of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup for both teams.
Qatar, the Asian champions, beat Kuwait 2-0 on Saturday while Bahrain – the defending champions – beat the UAE 2-1 the same day.
A victory on Tuesday would send either of the teams into the next stage of the eight-team tournament.
Qatar are currently on top of Group B with three points followed by Bahrain, also on three points. UAE and Kuwait are yet to open their account.
Qatar’s Portuguese coach Bruno Pinheiro saw his young players like Jassim Jaber, Amro Surag, Tariq Meshal Madiu, Tamim Mansour, Muhammad Waad and goalkeeper Mishaal Barshim have impressed during the team’s convincing win on Saturday.
At a press conference on Monday, the Qatar coach said: “The next match in the Gulf Cup will be different as Bahrain is a team that has had stability with its current coach for years and the harmony among its players is great.”
The coach added: “This tournament is important to all of us and winning against Kuwait was a great day for us. We must focus on facing Bahrain, especially since we trained for only two weeks.”
He said: “The Bahrain match will be difficult. We know that we have to focus more on winning and getting the three points. We deal with each match differently and our focus is currently on the Bahrain match. We hope to continue the positive results.”
“The matches in the tournament so far have been close therefore we do not have enough time. We are working on recovery and getting the players ready. I have to say the victory against Kuwait gives the Qatari team great confidence,” he added.
“We are happy to be in Iraq. We have the support of the fans, which helps us to do well on the pitch. I thank the Iraqi fans who supported us in the first meeting,” the coach said.
In the day’s other match, UAE will take on Kuwait at the Al Minaa Olympic Stadium at 6.45pm.
Group A comprises Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Iraw and Oman are on 4 points each while Saudi Arabia have 3 points after the first two matches of the group stage.
