Setback for Asian champions Qatar as UAE romp home with 3-1 win
DOHA: Asian champions Qatar started their campaign at the AFC Asian Qualifiers of Road to 26 with a disappointing 1-3 loss against United Arab Emirates here at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday night.
The match got off to a scrappy start with both sides taking time to settle down at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium.
The first piece of attacking play came from the two-time AFC Asian Cup champions Qatar in the 15th minute that needed a Khalifa Al Hammadi late interception to deny Akram Afif a tap-in.
Qatar took the lead in the 38th minute when Akram Afif found 18-year-old Ibrahim Al Hassan, who then beat Yahia Nader.
UAE found the equaliser in the 68th minute after Harib Abdalla was given space in the box to cut inside before unleashing a powerful shot past Barsham.
UAE went on to add a third in stoppage time through substitute Ali Saleh, benefiting from a defensive mistake to strike his shot into the roof of the net, sealing the win for the Emiratis.
