Asian Cup 2019: Clean sheets carry Qatar to final

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez says six clean sheets at the Asian Cup have been the basis of their charge to the final.

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez celebrates the Asian Cup semi-final win with his players

Qatar coach Felix Sanchez says his team’s record six clean sheets at the Asian Cup have been the foundation on which their charge to a maiden final has been built.

Amid shoes being thrown in insult, Qatar won their politically charged semi-final early yesterday against hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0.

The Qataris will face four-time champions Japan in the final on Saturday morning (1am AEDT) at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Qatar, who will host the World Cup in 2022, have won all six of their matches in the UAE.

“It’s very important and one of the main keys why we are qualified for the final,” Sanchez said about the clean sheets. “I think, obviously to not concede goals gives you more opportunities to go forward.”

The cloud of the diplomatic and trade boycott of Qatar that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt launched in 2017 hung heavy over the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, with the visitors’ national anthem booed by the majority of the crowd of 38,646. Boualem Khoukhi gave Qatar the lead in the 22nd minute and Almoez Ali doubled the advantage 15 minutes later with his record-equalling eighth goal of the campaign.

Hassan Al-Haydos and Hamid Ismail completed the rout with goals in the final 10 minutes.

The second goal prompted UAE fans to start throwing their shoes at the Qatari players, an act which is considered to be an insult.

The Asian Football Confederation said it would launch an investigation into the incident.

The UAE played the final seconds with 10 men after Ismail Ahmed was sent off for a rough tackle.

In a part of the world where the concept of host carries great importance, it was a messy conclusion for the UAE.

UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni, the wily tactician who led Japan to the 2011 Asian Cup triumph, duly apologised to pretty much everyone. “This is football. I assume full responsibility. I’m the coach and we lost,” he said.

“We were very well prepared for this game but we could not deliver the performance that would make the fans happy, we made so many mistakes around the game.

“We had the willpower, everyone was determined and everyone did their best but, as I said, I assume full responsibility and I defend the players.”

Zaccheroni thought the UAE had nevertheless benefited from his time in charge. “I worked with dedication and I did my best,” he said. “I gave the opportunity to young players and to experienced players and I think the UAE team has gained a lot of young players and this is due to the hard work I’ve spent with the UAE team.”

Agencies