DOHA: Qatar defender Fahad Shanin yesterday said his team-mates were confident of overcoming North Korea in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Championship.
Hosts Qatar yesterday beat a resilient North Korea 2-1 in extra time to reach the semi-finals of what is the 2016 Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
Akram Afif (4, penalty) and Ali Asad (92) scored for the home team.
North Korea’s captain So Kyung-jin scored off a free kick to force the extra time.
The top three sides will reach the football competition at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
“They are a strong side. We were exhausted today,” Shanin said yesterday.
“It was a tough match. But we knew how we would beat them. The important thing is we have won the match. The fan support today was tremendous. We feel great when the fans turn out in such large numbers,” the Qatari defender said.
“I would say it was a team effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar captain Abdelkareem Hassan yesterday termed his team’s quarterfinals win over North Korea as ‘a great fight’.
“I thank God for this win. It was a great fight back by our side in the extra time. Also, I want to thank my team mates for putting up such a great fight,” Hassan said on Friday. “It was an extremely match. Not an easy game by any means.”
“We are hopeful of going all the way. We have played tough football in this event. Korean team wasn’t that tough but they played hard in patches but we still stuck together. I am confident after suitable rest we will come back stronger. I can’t say what will happen but we will continue to try our best,” he said.
Striker Afif - who scored one of the two goals for the home side yesterday - said: “It was a team effort. Thank God for this win. We are playing as a unit. You will see us producing committed performances in the coming games also.”
In the remaining two quarterfinals, Korea take on Jordan while the UAE face defending champions Iraq.
The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar defender Fahad Shanin yesterday said his team-mates were confident of overcoming North Korea in the quarterfinals of the AFC U-23 Championship.
Hosts Qatar yesterday beat a resilient North Korea 2-1 in extra time to reach the semi-finals of what is the 2016 Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
Akram Afif (4, penalty) and Ali Asad (92) scored for the home team.
North Korea’s captain So Kyung-jin scored off a free kick to force the extra time.
The top three sides will reach the football competition at the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.
“They are a strong side. We were exhausted today,” Shanin said yesterday.
“It was a tough match. But we knew how we would beat them. The important thing is we have won the match. The fan support today was tremendous. We feel great when the fans turn out in such large numbers,” the Qatari defender said.
“I would say it was a team effort,” he said.
Meanwhile, Qatar captain Abdelkareem Hassan yesterday termed his team’s quarterfinals win over North Korea as ‘a great fight’.
“I thank God for this win. It was a great fight back by our side in the extra time. Also, I want to thank my team mates for putting up such a great fight,” Hassan said on Friday. “It was an extremely match. Not an easy game by any means.”
“We are hopeful of going all the way. We have played tough football in this event. Korean team wasn’t that tough but they played hard in patches but we still stuck together. I am confident after suitable rest we will come back stronger. I can’t say what will happen but we will continue to try our best,” he said.
Striker Afif - who scored one of the two goals for the home side yesterday - said: “It was a team effort. Thank God for this win. We are playing as a unit. You will see us producing committed performances in the coming games also.”
In the remaining two quarterfinals, Korea take on Jordan while the UAE face defending champions Iraq.
The Peninsula
