(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
The Peninsula
Doha: Hosts Qatar yesterday sailed past Yemen 3-0 in their opening match of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2022 Group A qualifiers.
Two first half goals coupled with Khaled Mohammed's wonder strike in the 63rd minute saw Qatar emerge victors at the Khalifa International Stadium.
In their next match on Thursday, Qatar will face Sri Lanka, who lost to Syria 0-5 in yesterday's second match at Qatar Sports Club Stadium.
Meanwhile, Yemen must bounce back strongly against Syria if they are to stay in contention for a place in Uzbekistan 2022.
Qatar took control of the match from the start and were ahead by the 14th minute when Ahmed Al Ganehi curled in a superb cross that a surging Hashim Ali finished emphatically.
Nicolas Cordova's Qatar side continued to press for more goals and their persistence was rewarded in the 42nd minute when Ali's strike from inside the box deflected off Hamzah Mohammed Sabah's boot and into the back of the net.
Yemen were more disciplined defensively in the second half but goalkeeper Ali Fadhl Ahmed could do little to stop Khaled Mohammed's crackling shot from almost 20 yards in the 63rd minute.
Yemen hardly threatened goalkeeper Salah Zakaria as the Qatari defenders were quick to thwart any threats as they held on strongly to bag the points.
Meanwhile, Syria unlocked Sri Lanka's defence within the first 15 seconds of the match as Mohammad Malta slotted home Ali Bashmani's pass from close range.
The provider turned goal scorer in the 25th minute to make it 2-0, with captain Mohammad Alhallak sending in a cross into the area which Malta headed onto the path of Bashmani to convert.
South Asians conceded a third goal when Alhallak's long-range strike bounced off Dananjaya's back and into the net in the 42nd minute.
Syria scored their fourth in the 70th minute through another Sri Lankan mistake. Ahmad Alkhassi's intended cross for substitute Abdulhadi Shalha saw a desperate Abdul Basith diverting the ball past his goalkeeper Gimhana.
There was to be a fifth for Syria in the 85th minute as Aimn Akil beat the offside trap before passing it to Bashmani for the clean finish.
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