CANBERRA: A second half double from Meshal Abdullah yesterday helped Qatar secure a fighting 2-2 draw against Oman in a friendly match played at Australian Institute of Sport pitch ahead of next week’s Asian Cup.
Coached by Paul Le Guen, Oman roared to a 2-0 lead after goals from Abdulazzi Mubqbali (11th minute) and Jaber Al Obaisi (27) but Qatar - coached by Djamel Belmadi - rallied after a double strike in the second half by Abdullah (54 and 58).
Belmadi played Qatar’s first choice XI that included goalkeeper Qassim Burhan, Bilal Mohammed, Abdul Rehman, Khalid Muftah, Khalfan Ibrahim, Hassan Al Haidos and Abdullah.
For striker Ibrahim it was an impressive return to fitness after the Al Sadd forward missed national duty for more than two months.
And he troubled the rival defence as one of his shot struck the Omani crossbar at the end of the first half but he failed to score.
Both teams substituted most of their regulars at the hour-mark.
Belmadi’s squad that won the Gulf Cup in November landed in Canberra following their 3-0 win over Estonia on Saturday. The Omani team arrived in Australia’s capital on Sunday.
Qatar underwent rigorous training sessions in preparation for their two scheduled friendly matches ahead of the January 9-31 AFC Asian Cup. Qatar take on New Zealand in their second friendly on January 5.
Al Anabi take on the UAE on January 11 in their opening Asian Cup match. The other two sides in Group C include Bahrain and Iran.
Qatar, who have appeared in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup twice, are aiming for their maiden title at this level when they compete at the 2015 Asian Cup.
Having appeared at the Asian Cup eight times previously, Qatar will be hoping to go better than their 7th place finish in 2011 when the event was held in Doha.
The Peninsula
