Japan players celebrate after scoring against Qatar in the AFC Beach Soccer Championship in Malaysia yesterday.
After facing a heavy defeat to Japan, Qatar are looking to bounce back strongly at the AFC Beach Soccer Championship, targeting a win against neighbouring rivals UAE in their second group C match today in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
Qatar entered the event with an aim to reach the semi-finals of the competition but their campaign suffered a jolt following a 14-0 loss to mighty Japan in their opening game.
The coach Carlos Lisboa’s side need positive results in their remaining next two group games to go beyond the group stage. After meeting UAE, Qatar are slated to meet Iraq in their final group game tomorrow.
As many as 12 teams are taking part in the competition with the top three finishers will be getting the ticket to represent Asia at the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to held in Nassau, Bahamas from April 27 to May 7.
Ahead of the event, Lisboa hoped his team to give an improved show in the event.
“We know fully well our performances in the past and we are here to make sure we improve our games to get the desired result. The teams in the group are very formidable but we will give our best to go beyond the group stage this time and enter the semi-finals,” the coach had said.
However, the team had no answer against two-time champions and five-time runners-up Japan who dominated right from the beginning. Takaaki Oba scored Japan’s first goal with a smart right-foot shot that caught keeper Amro Shana’ unawares, before Brazilian-born captain Ozu Moreira fired home to double his side's advantage.
Ozu then converted a penalty following a handball in the area to extend Japan's lead and bring the first period to an end with a comfortable lead for Mendes Marcelo’s side.
Hotshot Ozu again showed his prowess from distance with his third after the restart, before Takasuke Goto rattled in a free-kick shortly after and Takuya Akaguma scored to make it six for Japan.
A second penalty was expertly put away by Akaguma ahead of further strikes from Jun Sakata and Goto. Akaguma went on to bag a third goal courtesy of yet another penalty, before Ozu claimed his fourth from close range and Sakata scored his second.
A Tomoyuki Iino brace rounded off the scoring as Japan went top of Group C above the UAE who earlier beat Iraq 6-0.
Qatar have made two appearances at the continental competition - the 2013 and 2015 editions that they hosted.
