LThe hostess is still alive. Qatar, current champion, has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Asia Cup after defeating Palestine (2-1)with comeback included.
The pupils of the Spanish ‘Tintn’ Márquez saw it… and they wished it to them. Palestine, who got into the round of 16 after beating Hong Kong 0-3, jumped onto the grass with a very daring proposal.
Meshaal Barsham kept Qatar in the game. The Al Sadd goalkeeper excelled to deflect a shot from outside the area by Amid Mahajna and an outside shot by Mahmoud Abu Warda. As if that were not enough, Oday Dabbagh sent a heads-up to the clouds.
Dabbagh himself redeemed himself for his mistake in the 37th minute. Bassam Al Rawi lost the ball on the way out and the Charleroi attacker lunged towards the goal: He cut back Khoukhi and Lucas Mendes and scored with a left cross.
The joy did not last long. In the added length of the first half (45+6) the ‘laboratory’ of ‘Tintn’ Márquez and Luis García came to light. Akram Afif took a low shot to the penalty spot and The eternal Hassan Al Haydos benefited from a ‘clear’ to beat Rami Hamada with a shot that touched Dabbagh before going in.
‘Tintn’ Márquez did not like the situation, and at half-time he introduced a double change: Tarek Salman and Ahmed Al Ganehi came in for Salman and Al Rawi.
The substitution had an immediate effect. Akram Afif filtered a pass for Almoez Ali and the latter was brought down in the area by Mohammed Saleh. Penalty.
The partnership between the former Villarreal and Sporting player and the former Cultural player was working again. Afif did not forgive from 11 meters and now has four goals in four games. Only the Iraqi Aymen Husseinalready removed, He surpasses him in the race for top scorer with 6 goals.
Qatar continues to party. Already with an advantage on the scoreboard, he hardly suffered, although it is true that he did not have many opportunities either. The winner of Uzbekistan-Thailand will be their rival in the quarterfinals.
