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Qatar rode on Boualem Khoukhi’s two extra-time goals to outlast the challenge of former champions Kuwait to enter the final of the 8th West Asia Football Federation (WAFF) Championship at the Lekhwiya Stadium here yesterday. The hosts won the match 3-0. |
Khoukhi scored in the 94th and 112nd minutes after an unproductive regulation time in the first semi-final. The Algerian-born player created the difference with a spectacular show to help the hosts enter the final of the championship for the first time.
The 23-year-old midfielder scored the first goal with a brilliant corner kick which went through the hands of in-air goal-keeper Abdul Rahman, while his second came when he deflected a cross pass from Ismail into the right corner of the net.
The third goal was scored by striker Ali Asadalla Thaimn in the 120th minute of the game.
Khoukhi, who scored twice in the last group match against Saudi Arabia, was in his elements from the word go but failed to find the target despite three attempts at the goalmouth.
“It was a good game. I am very happy to win the game as we were playing against a team which is difficult to beat. They play a deep game and give less space to their rivals,” said Qatar coach Djamal Belmadi.
Commenting over the extra-time goals, he said, “We knew we will have our chances in the later part of the game. Tough, they came a bit late… in the extra-time… but a win is a win,” he said.
“I am happy with the boys’ performances as they are improving with each game. We have conceded only one goal in the tournament till now. We have a strong defence and hopefully we will put up another good show in the final,” he said.
Qatar’s first real chance to score came in the 19th minute when Khoukhi found some space inside the Kuwait box, but his low effort was saved by goal-keeper Rahman. A sustained period of pressure followed, but once more the Kuwait stopper quelled the danger.
The hosts continued to threaten with a series of crosses into the visitors’ box, but goal-keeper Abdul Rahman was guarding his area brilliantly.
Qatar had 60 percent of the ball possession, while they had 17 attempts at the goal to Kuwait’s five. However, none of the hosts’ efforts were on target. Both the sides had half-chances in the open game, but neither did enough to deserve to be leading at the full-time.
The referee was forced to issue three yellow cards and a red card to Abdulrahman al-Enezi in a highly-charged and scrappy game of football.
“It was really a tough game… In my opinion the final score did not give a real picture of the match. We were playing against a more experienced side and lost it in the extra-time as we failed on the fitness front,” Kuwait coach Vieira Jorvan said.
“It’s certainly not an excuse… I am just giving an explanation. Fitness matters more when a match enters the extra-time. I am very happy with the show of my young boys in the tournament. We had only eight days to prepare for the tournament and I think we did a satisfactory job here,” he added.
Kuwait won the championship in 2010 defeating Iran 2-1 in Amman.
The hosts, the first time finalist, will take on Jordan, who beat Bahrain 1-0 in the other semi-final, in the final on January 7 at the Al Sadd Stadium.
Qatar’s best finish in the championship is the fourth place in 2008 edition of the championship held In Tehran.