Afif inspires Qatar to extra-time winQatar 2-1 DPR Korea (AET)
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.
Akram Afif was the hero for the Maroons after he scored one and made another at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Friday night.
The hosts were left deflated when DPR Korea equalised in the 92nd 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.
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.
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 19th minute.
Kim spurned another golden opportunity in the 36th 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.
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.
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.
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 92nd 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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