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<strong><u>Afif inspires Qatar to extra-time win</u></strong><br />
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<u><strong>Qatar 2-1 DPR Korea​ (AET)</strong></u><br />
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<strong>Qatar are just one win away from securing a spot at the Rio Olympics after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over DPR Korea in the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC U23 Championship.</strong><br />
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Akram Afif was the hero for the Maroons after he scored one and made another at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Friday night.<br />
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The hosts were left deflated when DPR Korea equalised in the 92^nd minute but regrouped to score early in extra-time and secure a last-four encounter with either South Korea or Jordan, who play on Saturday.<br />
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Qatar took the lead in the fifth minute when Afif scored a penalty. The Eupen forward was brought down by Kang Il Nam but dusted himself down, took a long run-up and sent goalkeeper An Tae Song the wrong way.<br />
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DPR Korea enjoyed the lion’s share of possession after Afif’s penalty and were unlucky not to equalise when Kim Yong Il’s effort was ruled out for offside in the 19^th minute.<br />
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Kim spurned another golden opportunity in the 36^th minute when he failed to convincingly connect from just six yards out, before Qatar goalkeeper Muhannad Naim produced a good stop to deny a powerful shot from a tight angle. The home defence also had to be alert on the stroke of half-time when a DPR Korea corner had to be scrambled clear.<br />
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Into the second half and Qatar managed to halt DPR Korea’s domination of possession. The hosts even went close to doubling their lead when Afif’s free-kick forced Song to make a smart save.<br />
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As the clock ticked past 90 minutes it looked as if Qatar had done enough to book a place in the semi-finals. However, DPR Korea had other ideas and equalised in the second minute of added time. So Kyong Jin struck a free-kick sweetly from 25 yards out but Naim will have been disappointed not to save the curling right-footed effort.<br />
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Qatari heads looked to have dropped as the game headed into extra-time. However, Afif wasn’t affected byDPR Korea’s last-gasp goal. In the 92^nd minute the Belgium-based forward produced a burst of pace on the left flank before producing a pinpoint cutback for Ali Asad to slot home.<br />
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DPR Korea pressed for a second leveller and went close when Kim Ju Song sent a curling effort towards the top corner. However this time Naim was equal to it and palmed the ball clear.<br />
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Afif went close to a hat-trick in the second half of extra-time but goalkeeper Song saved well following a good run and shot.<br />
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DPR Korea continued to press and almost scored from another free-kick right at the death. However this time Naim was equal to the effort and succeeded in pushing the ball behind for a corner, from which DPR Korea failed to threaten. That proved the final piece of action before the referee blew the final whistle and confirmed Qatar’s place in the last four.<br />
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Qatar’s semi-final will take place on Tuesday night at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. A win for the hosts will guarantee qualification for the Olympics for the first time since 1992.<br />
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