Afc.com
Bangkok
Habibullah Hotak scored both goals as Afghanistan edged Qatar 2-1 to complete their AFC U17 Asian Cup Thailand 2023 Group B campaign on a high note.
The win meant Afghanistan finished third in the group behind Islamic Republic of Iran and Korea Republic while Qatar’s campaign concluded with just one point to their name.
A lot was riding for Qatar as a win over Afghanistan, coupled with a favour from Korea Republic could potentially see them pip the Islamic Republic of Iran to the second quarter-final spotfrom Group B.
On the other hand, Afghanistan, the only team in the group to have never won the title, looked eager to finish their outing on a positive note.
Qatar squandered an opportunity to take an early lead when Tahsin Mohammed Jamshid floated a cross to Nasser Adil Babiker, who wastefully sent the ball wide with a header from short range..
Afghanistan responded by making repeated charges into Qatar’s 18-yard box in the minutes that followed.
Their determination yielded a result in the 17th minute when Hakim Khan Niazi’s through ball found Habibullah Hotak just outside the box, with his right footed shot hitting the crossbar before settling in the back of the net.
But Afghanistan’s celebrations around their first goal of the competition were shortlived as goalkeeper Sediqullah Hussain parried an attempt from Qatar’s Babiker from the right flank in the 25th minute, inadvertently punching the ball straight to the feet of midfielder Khalid Atiyaq Alshaaibi who sent it through to the top right corner of the net.
Qatar, however, found themselves trailing again in the 40th minute when thanks to an assist from Ali Reza Rahimi, defender Hotak unleashed a sharp right footed shot that went past a helpless Galal Elsharkway.
As the clock hit the one hour mark, midfielder Arash Ahmadi created a chance for Afghanistan to extend their lead but his pass to teammate Navid Mohammadipast several Qatari defendersfailed to achieve much as the lattersent the ball wide.
For much of the remaining minutes of the second half, the Qatari players seemed to have run out of breath and it was Mohammad Zada’s side who continued to take some half-hearted chances, most of them being cleared away by the West Asian defence line without much effort.