Qatar dominated proceedings and came out victors against Sri Lanka with a score line of 5-1 in the 2020 AFC U19 Championship Qualifiers at the Doha Sports City Aspire 5 pitch in Qatar.
Sri Lanka started the game with a surprise omission of their skipper Shabeer Razooniya from the starting lineup. Coach Mohamed Amanulla started with Mohamed Rikaz up front instead.
The Lankans were pinned in their half from the kick off. Qatar took the lead in the 5th minute through Mekki Mohsen who outmuscled two defenders inside the box and with the 1st shot on target. Mohamed Mursith got a hand to it but was unable to stop the goal.
Sri Lanka struggled to maneuver their way to the Qatari half and when they did they did not have the juice to complete the move. The hosts scored again in the 19th minute with a corner directed to the far post for an unmarked Mostafa Esam to head in.
20 minutes in Head Coach Mohamed Amanulla withdrew Mohamed Rikaz and brought in Shabeer Razooniya to add weight to the attack.
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Qatar continued to dominate proceedings with the Lankans only chasing shadows as the hosts moved the ball from side to side. Mohamed Mursith made brilliant back to back saves before the break.
However, just before the break, Qatar got their 3rd goal after the initial shot saved by Mursith fell onto the path of Mekki Mohsen who side footed in to an empty net.
A minute later, Shabeer Razooniya then showed a moment of brilliance when he got hold of a poor clearance and drilled home a 30 yard effort beating a flat footed Yousef Abdullah in the Qatari goal.
Half time: Qatar 3 – 1 Sri Lanka
At the start of the second half Sri Lanka took the game to Qatar and played in the opponents’ half for a period of time. Qatar weathered the initial threats and settled to the same pattern as the first 45 minutes.
Sri Lanka defended in numbers and ensured they had 8 to 9 bodies behind the ball in their own half and kept their discipline. Mohamed Mushfir, Packyanathan Rexon and Mariyaneshan Prashanth were excellent at the back.
In the 59th minute Avishka Deshan unfortunately guided a corner to his own net to give the hosts a 4th goal much to the disappointment of his team mates and the bench. Minutes after, the Lankan defense was caught napping when a quick break away was finished off by Jassim Fahad from the right wing.
From there on it was damage limitations and the Lankans turned to a five-player defense with Hasika Navoda replacing Shishan Prabudda in the midfield. Prabudda had a game to forget where he was ineffective and never got in to the game.
In the final 10 minutes Qatar hit the woodwork twice as the Lankans looked tired and waiting for the end of the game. Qatar did not push too much ahead of themselves and took long shots as both teams settled for the end of the game.
Full time: Qatar 5 – 1 Sri Lanka
Goal Scorers
Qatar – Mekki Mohsen 5’ & 44’, Mostafa Esam 19’, Avishka Deshan(OG) 59’, Jassim Fahad 63’
Sri Lanka – Shabeer Razooniya 45’
Turkmenistan vs Yemen
In an earlier game of Group B, Yemen overcame Turkmenistan by 2 goals to 1. Yemen went in to the half time break 2 goals up. Turkmenistan fought their way back in the second half but to no avail.
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