Tamim Mansour celebrates after scoring Qatar's goal against UAE on Friday.
Doha: After taking Qatar into the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup semi-finals, Tamim Mansour is hoping to help Al Annabi win the trophy saying the team’s performance will improve in the finals.
Making national team’s debut in Iraq, Tamim – son of Qatar legend Mansour Muftah – made headlines with his 88th minute equaliser against the United Arab Emirates in Basra that took his side to the semi-finals on Friday.
The 20-year-old’s goal off a cross from Homam Al Amin rescued Qatar from a defeat after UAE took the lead through a 77th minute strike from Fabio De Lima.
The draw salvaged a crucial point for the three-time champions, who finished the group stage on four points edging Kuwait on goal difference to advance from the group, topped by defending champions Bahrain.
Tamim’s heroics recalled the memories of his father Mansour Muftah, who had also scored Qatar’s lone goal against the UAE in the 1979 edition of Gulf Cup.
Al Annabi now face hosts and Group A winners Iraq in the first semi-final tomorrow at Basra International Stadium.
“We will definitely come up with an improved performance,” Tamim, who represents Al Rayyan like his father, said after the match.
“It was a team effort as all players played with responsibility and I am happy that my goal helped Qatar reach the semi-finals,” he said.
“I want to congratulate all Qatar fans. We are now hoping to win the tournament and return to Doha with the trophy. We will prepare well against Iraq as the home team will pose a tough challenge,” he added.
Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham thanked fans for their support in match against the UAE.
“The match against the UAE was difficult as they played well but the best thing is that we qualified. Of course, the match against hosts Iraq will be difficult, but we have enough time to prepare for the match and we will definitely be ready,” he said.
Qatar, fielding a new-look side comprising several youngsters, opened their campaign in the tournament with a 2-0 victory over 10-time champions Kuwait before losing to Bahrain 2-1 in their next match ahead of 1-1 draw against the UAE.
Al Annabi midfielder Ali Asad said Qatar were deserving semi-finalists of the Gulf Cup.
“Our group was tough in presence of Bahrain and Kuwait and nobody expected us to reach the semi-finals but we played well in all the three matches,” said the Al Sadd player.
“Now we have tough opponents in hosts Iraq who have been performing very well in front of home fans. We will prepare in the best way against them with an aim to reach the final,” he said.
Bahrain and Oman will square off in the second semi-final tomorrow at the Basra International with the final scheduled to be played on January 19 at the same venue.
