A compact Afghanistan put up a stubborn performance to hold Qatar 0-0 in their Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 Group A match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ at the Prince Abdullah Bin Jalawi Stadium in Al-Hasa, Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

The result took Afghanistan to five points, level with India and one ahead of Kuwait with Qatar having already earned qualification into Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Afghanistan play Kuwait on Tuesday with India facing Qatar in what promises to be an exciting finale to Group A.

Afghanistan were content to press high, be patient, close in the gaps, sticking together to absorb the pressure, not allowing a new-look Qatari side to break free.
Nevertheless, Qatar had their first chance in the 12th minute when Abdullah Al Yazidi unleashed an effort from inside the 18-yard box, but his attempt sailed over.
Afghanistan were forced into a substitution in the 23rd minute as Rahmat Akbari picked up an injury and was substituted by Jamshed Asekzai.

Enjoying more ball possession, Qatar were willing to play it around, and all over. They came close in the 40th minute when Ahmed Alrawi feinted down the left, entered the 18-yard box but a horde of Afghan defenders, desperate and chasing, prevented him from finding Ibrahim Al Hassan.
Three minutes later, Afghan goalkeeper Ovays Azizi stooped down to collect a vicious cross preventing Qatar from making any impact.
Azizi was again in the thick of action in added time, diving to his left to palm away Alrawi’s free-kick from outside the box which was awarded after captain Haroon handled the ball.

Immediately after the resumption, Qatar earned a corner but they weren’t able to capitalise.
The two-time AFC Asian Cup champions by now were attacking with all thrust forcing Afghanistan to defend deep, and as the game progressed, the Central Asian had to rely on counter-attacks to break down the opposition.
Qatar came close to opening the scoring in the 57th minute only to be denied by the woodwork – Tahsin Jamshid’s header off Mahdi Salem’s cross bouncing off the post.

Desperate to break the deadlock, Qatar brought made three substitutions in the 73rd minute — Hazem Shehata coming in for Homam Ahmed, Yusuf Abdurisag replacing Ibrahim Al Hassan and Abdullah Alahrak substituting Naif Al Hadrami.
Afghanistan were not to be deterred. They did have a close shave in added time when Yusuf Abdurisag failed to head it in off a Mohamed Gouda cross, but managed to hold on and will go into their tie against Kuwait knowing victory will take them through to the third round of the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and AFC Asian Cup Finals for the first time.

  • نویسنده : محمد مهدی اسماعیلی رها