DOHA: Reigning champions Qatar became the first team to advance to the knockout stages of the Asian Cup with a 1-0 win over Tajikistan on Wednesday.
Akrim Afif scored to seal top spot for the hosts in Group A with a game to spare. In another match of the same group, China played out a 0-0 draw with Lebanon.
Tajikistan, meanwhile, received the first red card of the tournament when Amadoni Kamolov was sent off late in the game for violent conduct.
“I’m very pleased to qualify after two matches. It was a difficult match but we prepared really well against a strong team and we didn’t give the opponent a chance to score against us,” Qatar coach Marquez Lopez told the media.
“Tajikistan started the match with high pressure, but we were able to handle that.”
Tajikistan dominated the opening stages but it was Qatar who took the lead in the 17th minute when Almoez Ali won a scrappy battle in midfield to regain possession and released Afif, who chipped the onrushing goalkeeper to find the net.
