Qatar 4-0 United Arab Emirates
This was not how many UAE fans saw this Asian Cup semi-final panning out.
They outnumbered the Qataris by the time the ball kicked off. They chanted and shouted and screamed for their team to succeed against their neighbours. They were hoping for a glorious final that involves their national team.
However, what they witnessed was a one-sided slaughter as Qatar proved too much of a football team to their beloved boys in white.
Highlights of the game
The Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium is packed full of home supporters that are hoping to see their nation make the Asian Cup final. There is pressure on both sides to succeed, but both Felix Sanchez Bas and Alberto Zaccheroni played down the match during the tunnel interviews and focused on the task at hand.
Both nations started the game low and slow as they tried to poke their opposing defenders loose. The stadium was hostile ground for the Qatar team as the Emirati authorities pulled off a curious decision to block Qatari fans from attending the match.
Both UAE and Qatar tested the opposing keeper with shots within the first fifteen minutes of the game, but both stoppers managed to stop the ball from going in. The entire stadium was on its feet, cheering on the hosts to beat the tournament’s dark horse.
The first half seemed destined to end in a draw, but the isolated Qatari team had other plans. Akram Afif released Boualem Khoukhi in the 22nd minute to run all the way down the right wing. He launched a strike from the edge of the box, and it was supposed to be an attempt Khalid Essa Bilal Saeed can easily save.
However, Saeed was curiously ineffective as what was supposed to be a routine save turned out to be a brilliant goal for Qatar. The ball slipped underneath the 29-year-old Al Ain stopper, shocking the crowd and the many SBOBET fans tuned in to the match.
UAE tried to get back on equal terms after conceding and hounded the Qataris with some wing play down the right. However, Saad Al Sheeb and the rest of the Qatari defence were more than able to contain the Eyal Zayed and push away their attempts for the equaliser.
When the game made it past the 30-minute mark, UAE’s pressing and defensive aggression went up a notch. They began engaging the football at a much higher point as well as committing rough fouls against the guests. These actions — combined with the less-than-friendly-crowd — made life on the pitch rough for Al-Annabi.
However, things got better for the outnumbered visitors when they got a second goal to put them in a comfortable position. Afif was once again the architect when the Qataris played some beautiful passing football to get Ali Almoez into the danger box. He wasted no time looking for the goal as he launched a beautiful curler past Bilal Saeed.
The shell-shocked faces of the thousands of Emirati faithful who came to the game were more than enough Asian Cup 2019 highlights for the Qataris as the game entered the half-time break. Zaccheroni knew that the task of making a comeback would be tough and tried to instil some passion into his boys.
Eyal Zayed did come out of the gates running in the second half, desperate to get into the final and not disappoint their fans. Their attacks got more frantic, their tackles more intimidating, and their attitudes more unapologetic.
However, the Qataris stood their ground, their defence as solid as the beautiful maroon shirts they don. They defended pretty well and kept their cool despite the UAE supporters throwing bottles and shoes their way in a display of callousness. They displayed the class that helped them take down a struggling giant in South Korea.
The game was definitely sealed by the 80th minute when Hasan Al Haydos cracked through the Emirati defence after another brilliant pass from Afif. He beat the error-prone Bilal Saeed with a chipped shot to crush the heart of the entire Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium. Hamid Ismaeil made it 4-0 in added time when Qatar collapsed once more.
It was a painful match to watch for the host nation as some offices let their employees off early to catch this subpar showing. Meanwhile, Qatar feel the result as a justification for the extremely hostile atmosphere they have provided the team and the millions of neutrals watching from all over the world.
Key statistics
The UAE only had a slight advantage despite having thousands of people on their side: they only held the ball 51% of the time and managed to push in 10 shots towards the goal. It is also curious that they never managed to produce any goals despite earning five corner kicks.
It was definitely a night to forget for Bilal Saeed as he only managed to pull off one save compared to Saad Al-0Sheeb’s three stops. He was rendered helpless as Qatar had five of seven shots on target.
Another interesting factoid: Qatar haven’t conceded a goal in any of the matches they have played in this tournament. Sanchez hopes that this defensive form will continue as his team marches on for the final.
What’s next?
Qatar should have some Asian Cup 2019 odds turn in their favour as they prepare to face Japan, but they will still be the heavy underdogs as they face the Samurai Blue. Japan have always been the bigger team in most of the matches they have played, and the same rings true this time.
However, it will be interesting to see if Al-Annabi will be able to pull off a fairytale run and head back home with the Asian Cup in tow.
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