Metsu eyes quarter-final run

Coach Bruno Metsu believes Qatar showed their true colours after his side kept their Asian Cup hopes alive with a 2-0 win over China.

A spectacular double from Yusef Ahmed was the difference between the two sides on Wednesday, leaving both locked on three points with one group match remaining.

After a disappointing loss to Uzbekistan in the tournament opener, Metsu said he hoped Wednesday’s win would spark a run into the quarter-finals for the host nation.

“We had to show the true face of our team and the players showed our real performance tonight,” said Metsu.

“I’m proud with everything that they showed and happy about this performance.”

“I hope that we can have a similar display in next match against Kuwait so that we can carry on in the competition and advance to the knockout stage.”

“We missed several chances but I’m happy that we created these chances. I hope that we can create such chances in the next game and that we can take the pressure off our shoulders against Kuwait.”

Qatar face Kuwait on Sunday and must achieve a better result than China do in their match against Group A leaders Uzbekistan if they are to qualify for the knockout stages.

But Metsu said they would do their best to ensure their fate was in their own hands.

“The situation is complicated but we have no choice other than to win in the next game,” Metsu said.

“China can win and Uzbekistan will try their best to win to secure first place in the group but if we want to advance, we must play to win as we did today.”

Chinese coach Gao Hongbo was left to rue his side’s lack of cutting edge in front of goal as they now prepare for a do-or-die match with Uzbekistan on Sunday.

“Our team didn’t do very well in the attack,” Gao said.

“Qatar scored their two goals in the first-half and we didn’t put them under enough pressure so they organised their defence as the pressure was not big.”

“Today, Qatar had four shots on target and we had three chances but Qatar scored two goals while we did not. Football sometimes depends on luck.”