|
When you take on one of the giants in football, you are already running uphill. The main focus therefore should be on testing your skills against the better opponents and work on the chinks in the armour. Yesterday, in a battle of the U-23s, the Qatar team was defeated 0-4 by Brazil. The match, which was played at the Al Arabi Football Club stadium, saw Qatar’s young guns get a taste of what it will be like to play against the big boys. |
But with the Rio Olympics still two years away and the 2022 World Cup, eight years, Qatar now knows how much the difference is and what they need to bridge the gap.
The match was played almost entirely in Qatar’s half. The margin of defeat could have been greater had the Brazilian side converted all their chances. The initial part of the first half saw the Qatar team put up a strong defence and even managed a couple of counter attacks. Whatever the Brazilians threw at them, they were able to defend.
In the 31st minute, Brazil finally found the breakthrough. Skipper Matheus Doria was able to score with a simple tap in after a goalmouth scramble. And just two minutes later Brazil doubled the lead. Ademilson Braga got a great through ball from the midfield and then ran towards goal. Braga fell down at the mouth of the goal but was able to get back on his feet, put in a burst of speed past a defender and shoot with such power that the Qatar goalkeeper Mohannad Naim got his hands to it but the ball still went in. Naim should have stopped that one but didn’t anticipate the power.
This double whammy seemed to break down the home side’s resistance. Brazil found their twinkle toes and were passing the ball better. In the 39th minute, Brazil should have scored their third but Alisson Crasto could only head the ball into the post after he got a cross from the right wing.
In the 42nd minute, Brazil had another chance through a header by Wallace dos Santos but Qatar keeper Naim was able to save it.
The half-time whistle blew with Qatar two goals down. But the way the Brazilians had picked up the tempo, despite the humid conditions, the game had more goals in store.
And in the 53rd minute, it was Braga again who scored the third goal. He got a great through ball and was able to fire it past Naim for his second goal of the match. Brazil were looking more and more dangerous by the minute.
Just two minutes later, Castro curled in a freekick which saw Alison Lopes send a header goal bound but Naim was able to pull off a good save.
The home side were too busy defending to try and string together passes for the counter attack. And when they did, they didn’t have enough players up front to make anything of it. But Saleh Bader and Ahmed Ala’addin, who were playing up front, did make a few runs that caused some bother for the Brazilian defence.
After this Brazil, keen to give more players a chance, took off Braga and four others. Five fresh players came onto the pitch but the rhythm continued for the visitors.
After the third goal, Qatar were able to defend a bit better and this was the time when Bader and Ala’addin were able to produce a few of their runs into the opponent’s final one-third.
Brazil continued with their attack and were rewarded in the 74th minute when their substitutes combined for the fourth goal. Vinicius Araujo sent in a great cross into the box from the right flank and Douglas Coutinho first had his header blocked by Naim but was able to tap in the rebound.
It was complete dominance by Brazil but the home side did show some spark. Qatar camp will have made their notes. Now they have to work on the chinks in the armour and get the team ready for the Rio Olympics. The good part is that they have two years to hone the team.
