Qatar will need to beat Chinese Taipei Wednesday in their last Group A clash in the AFC U-19 Championship to ensure a quarter-final spot in the prestigious continental tournament.
After losing to the UAE and clinching a thrilling 6-5 win over hosts Indonesia, Qatar are placed second with three points from two matches.
The UAE, who have six points from two wins, will take on Indonesia in another match. Indonesia, who also have three points but are behind Qatar on goal difference, can also qualify for the last eight stage if they beat the UAE and Qatar fail to get past Taipei.
“It is key to remember that we won the game with Indonesia, and that we still have a chance of advancing,” said Qatar’s assistant coach Lino Godinho, who will deputise for suspended head coach Bruno Pinheiro, referring to the fact that Qatar were, at one stage, 6-1 up against the Indonesians.
“We must focus on the positives that we saw in the last game and continue to do what we do well which is keeping the ball and creating chances.
“There are several plus points which we can take into the game against Chinese Taipei and we will not change the way we play as we wholeheartedly believe in our methods.”
With his team now unlikely to qualify for the last eight, Chinese Taipei’s Vom Ca Nhum is expecting another tough test for his side.
“We struggled physically in our last game against the UAE and we could face the same issues when we play Qatar,” he said.
“But, we will see. Of course, we will be doing everything we can to get a positive result and continue our development.”
Meanwhile, Indonesia head coach Indra Sjafri has vowed that his players will fight until the end to guarantee themselves a place in the AFC U-19 Championship Indonesia 2018 quarter-finals.
Given that the Emiratis have impressed during their victories over both Qatar and Chinese Taipei, Indonesia’s task is indeed a sizeable one, although Sjafri believes the host nation will lay everything on the line to secure the three points they so desperately crave.
“The struggle is not over yet,” he said.
“There is still one more group stage game to go and we have to be prepared to fight until the very end against the United Arab Emirates. Whatever happens in the other game (between Qatar and Chinese Taipei) we simply must win.”
Indonesia approach the game with the dust still settling on Sunday’s remarkable 6-5 defeat to Qatar, a titanic tussle which has left Sjafri acutely aware that his side cannot afford to repeat the errors which cost them dearly against the West Asians.
“We are guilty of making individual errors that allowed Qatar to score,” declared the one-time Bali United coach.
“We have to ensure that those mistakes do not happen in our next match. If we do, we still have a chance to qualify.”