Qatar sealed its first-ever Gold Cup victory on Saturday night with a resounding 4-0 result over Grenada during the second matchday in Group D in Houston.
The Asian champions took the lead in the 11th minute as Abdelaziz Hatem had a right-footed finish in the opening goal of the encounter. Left back Abdelkarim Hassan assisted the play with a cross into the box that ended in Hatem getting past Grenada goalkeeper Jason Belfon.
From that point on, it was straightforward for Qatar. Forward Akram Afif scored his second goal of the tournament with a marvellous curler from outside the box in the 22nd minute of play. Mohamed Muntari scored Qatar’s third goal in the 36th minute with a header at the near post during a corner kick opportunity.
Almoez Ali would get involved with the scoring after the halftime break to extend the lead for the tournament guests to 4-0. The play came from a right wing cross across the box from right back Pedro Miguel. Ali came close to scoring again in the 58th minute but was denied by Grenadian defender Aaron Pierre.
Grenada goalkeeper Jason Belfon came up with one of his 17 saves on the day in the 64th minute to deny Afif from getting a brace. Miguel nearly had another assist on the day as he once again delivered a dangerous ball across goal. Abdullah al-Ahrak connected with a powerful shot but was denied by the post in the 82nd minute. Miguel nearly got a goal of his own just seconds later but his attempt went just wide of the goal. With the win, Qatar improved to four points heading into their final group match against Honduras. Grenada will depart Houston for Orlando and will look for their first Gold Cup win or draw against Panama.

Honduras advance to quarter-finals
 Meanwhile, Honduras defeated Panama with a 3-2 come-from-behind to punch their ticket to the quarter-finals. After scoring four goals in their Group D opening match, Honduras picked up where it left off when Romell Quioto opened the scoring in the 22nd minute in Houston, Texas. Similar to its first match, Panama wouldn’t relent. The team found a way back onto the scoreboard after earning a penalty. Eric Davis would score the equaliser in the 32nd minute.
Panama would sneak another goal in right before the halftime whistle for its first lead during the tournament. Cesar Yanis picked up his first Gold Cup goal in the 45’+1 minute on a cross from Alberto Quintero.
Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez came up with one of his 12 saves on the day in the 51st minute to keep his team in contention and avoid a lead extension by a confident Panama attack.
Midfielder Alexander Lopez equalized the match with Honduras’ second goal in the 61st minute. The goal came off a second-hand opportunity that Lopez met at the top of the box and smashed into the right corner of the goal.
Quioto would regain the lead for Honduras in the 65th minute after meeting a long pass from centre back Kevin Alvarez in the run of play and sending the Honduran public in Houston into jubilation.
With six points through its first two group matches, Honduras has secured its return to the knockout stage for the first time since the 2017 tournament. The team’s opponent in the knockout stage will be determined after its match with Qatar in the two sides’ final group match.