Qatar v United Arab Emirates (2019 AFC Asian Cup)

The Qatar v United Arab Emirates was an AFC Asian Cup match occurred in 29 January 2019 as part of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. It was held at Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in the capital of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi. The match is referred as Blockade Derby, due to ongoing Qatar diplomatic crisis and deterioration of Qatar–United Arab Emirates relations.[1]

2019 AFC Asian Cup semi-finals
Blockade Derby
The Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium held the match
Event2019 AFC Asian Cup
Qatar United Arab Emirates
4 0
Qatar entered its first ever final in their AFC Asian Cup history
Date29 January 2019
VenueMohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
RefereeCésar Arturo Ramos (Mexico)
Attendance38,646

The match has a significant impact on the outcome of the tournament. It's highly criticized in the United Arab Emirates, with the Emirati hosts suffered its most humiliating home defeat in their AFC Asian Cup history.[2] In Qatar, the match is highly recommended and remembered for the famous victory over the odds to help Qatar reaching its first ever Asian Cup final, and, eventually, won the tournament.[3]

Background

Both Qatar and the United Arab Emirates marked the 2019 edition as the 10th edition they have qualified. While the United Arab Emirates automatically qualified as host, Qatar was the first country to qualify for the tournament, having secured it in November 2015. Being the two earliest teams to qualify, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar also had unsuccessful attempts to qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup. This prompted the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to replace managers, with the Emirates appointed 2011 AFC Asian Cup winner Alberto Zaccheroni, and Qatar hired Félix Sánchez Bas, former youth coach of FC Barcelona and the architect of Qatar's successful 2014 AFC U-19 Championship conquest.[4][5]

In 2017, the Qatar diplomatic crisis erupted, with the United Arab Emirates, along with Bahrain, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, cut off relations with Qatar in accusation of sponsoring terrorism and its independent diplomacy, blockaded air and space for Qatar and banned Qataris from entering these countries.[6] The rift was emboldened by the 13 demands from the blockade countries, mostly led by the United Arab Emirates, in similar charges.[7] Qatar rejected the demands, and the blockade continued. The tensions later served as a catalyst for the eventual hostilities between two countries, which even extended to football as well. In 2018 AFC U-19 Championship, the captain of U-19 United Arab Emirates team refused to shake hand with the counterpart from Qatar.[8] The United Arab Emirates won 2–1, however the United Arab Emirates would soon crash out of group stage while Qatar would recover to qualify for 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The buildup of 2019 AFC Asian Cup was also marred with tensions between Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. Qatari organizers and, especially AFC Vice-President Saoud al-Mohannadi, was also barred by the Emirati authorities.[9][10] Although the Emirati government later announced that it would permit Qatari citizens temporary entry into the country pending approval from Emirati authorities, Qataris were still banned from entering the country throughout the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.[11]

Pre-match
 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
20 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 
 Thailand1
 
24 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 China PR2
 
 China PR0
 
20 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 Iran3
 
 Iran2
 
28 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 Oman0
 
 Iran0
 
20 January – Al Maktoum
 
 Japan3
 
 Jordan1 (2)
 
24 January – Al Maktoum
 
 Vietnam (p)1 (4)
 
 Vietnam0
 
21 January – Sharjah
 
 Japan1
 
 Japan1
 
1 February – Zayed Sports City
 
 Saudi Arabia0
 
 Japan
 
22 January – Rashid
 
 
 
 South Korea (a.e.t.)2
 
25 January – Zayed Sports City
 
 Bahrain1
 
 South Korea0
 
22 January – Al Nahyan
 
 Qatar1
 
 Qatar1
 
29 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 Iraq0
 
 Qatar
 
21 January – Zayed Sports City
 
 United Arab Emirates
 
 United Arab Emirates (a.e.t.)3
 
25 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 Kyrgyzstan2
 
 United Arab Emirates1
 
21 January – Khalifa bin Zayed
 
 Australia0
 
 Australia (p)0 (4)
 
 
 Uzbekistan0 (2)
 

Qatar, with majority of the squad was formed from the basis of the team that won the 2014 AFC U-19 Asian Cup, was drawn into group E, together with neighbor and rival Saudi Arabia, and two minnows Lebanon and North Korea. Qatar easily topped their group with a comfortable style, winning all three matches, respectively, 2–0 Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, as well as its biggest ever win in their Asian Cup history, a 6–0 win over North Korea, despite being completely cut off from fans.[12][13][14] Qatar then met Iraq in the round of sixteen as Iraqi supporters dominated the stadium, where Iraqi-born Bassam Al-Rawi turned hero as Qatar won its first ever knockout stage game, 1–0.[15] Qatar then faced the Asian powerhouse South Korea, which had previously eliminated Germany from the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the appearance of star striker Son Heung-min, and created the biggest shock in the tournament, beating the mighty South Koreans 1–0 to reach the semi-finals, without conceding a single goal.[16]

The United Arab Emirates, as hosts, automatically drawn into the group A, along with neighbor Bahrain, and guests Thailand and India. Prior to the tournament, the United Arab Emirates suffered a bad new when playmaker and star Omar Abdulrahman could not take part due to an injury.[17] The United Arab Emirates topped the group, but with an unpromising performance, winning only against India and drew to Bahrain and Thailand.[18][19][20] In the round of sixteen, the United Arab Emirates struggled for over 120' to overcome a brave Kyrgyzstan 3–2 with Ahmed Khalil converted a successful penalty.[21] Then, the United Arab Emirates managed its biggest achievement in the tournament, beating then-Asian champions Australia 1–0 thanked for a mistake by Milos Degenek, to set-up its semi-final encounter against Qatar.[22]

As Japan had crushed Iran 3–0 in the earlier semi-finals, the winner of the last semi-final game would face Japan for the trophy.[23] The United Arab Emirates also held an edge by historical performance, being undefeated to Qatar since 2002.

Match ticket controversy

Prior to the semi-finals, Prince Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan decided to buy all the remaining tickets of the match to distribute for home fans, as a way to cheer the spirit of the United Arab Emirates, meaning that Qatar had to face an entirely hostile crowd. This had generated controversy as the United Arab Emirates were attempting to politicize the match, given the earlier crisis in the relations between two countries.[24]

Match

Summary

The match started strongly for the United Arab Emirates, as Qatar looked a little nervous at early minutes. However, as usual, first ten minutes saw the Qatari defenders and goalkeeper Saad Al-Sheeb played solidly against the might of Ali Mabkhout, currently the best player of the United Arab Emirates. After the first ten minutes, Qatar regained the note and pressed the United Arab Emirates to defense. Salem Al Hajri had a chance to finish off Khalid Eisa, but was unsuccessful. Pressure mounted on the Emirati defenders increased in the next ten minutes. It didn't take long for Qatar to take the lead. At the 22nd minute, Boualem Khoukhi’s angled drive from 18 yards found its way under Khalid Eisa’s dive and into the net, stunned entire of home fans with a 1–0 lead. Undeterred, the UAE responded through an Ismail Al Hammadi header which was saved by Saad Al Sheeb, and a similar effort from Ali Mabkhout that fizzed wide of the target shortly before the half-hour mark. Qatar had a chance in the corner kick provided by Akram Afif, but it was to no avail. Not to wait long, Qatar doubled their lead in the 38th minute. Akram Afif found Almoez Ali who advanced into the area before firing home via a post to equal Ali Daei’s record for the most goals by a player at Asia’s premier event, silenced home fans for the second times. At 42', Ali Mabkhout fell into Qatar's penalty area due to Tarek Salman, but was denied a penalty as Tarek's pressure was not enough. In 45', the UAE missed another free kick opportunity to leave the stadium with two-goal deficit at home.[25]

Second half saw veteran Ismail Matar replacing Amer Abdulrahman. In 52', Al Sheeb denied a clear strike by Mabkhout to maintain two goal deficit. Qatari defenders, in order to protect the safe score, causing numerous fouls outside the penalty area and provided a significant problem for Emirati attackers, resulting with Karim Boudiaf received a yellow card. In 68', Tarek Salman suffered a light injury, before being able to continue the game. Ismail Matar tried to break through two minutes later, but was unsuccessful. Mohamed Abdulrahman was substituted in 70' for Saif Rashid to reinvigorate the midfield. Al Sheeb was on hand to deny Ahmed Khalil in 73' to keep the scoreline. Akram Afif later fell into the Emirati penalty area, but the match continued. Not affected by it, Qatar added a third in the 81st minute when captain Hassan Al-Haydos manoeuvred past Bandar Al-Ahbabi and clipped the ball over Eisa, completely manuovered the Emiratis right in Abu Dhabi. Only by then, Sánchez Bas decided to substitute his first player, Ahmed Alaaeldin replacing Qatari rising star Almoez Ali, when he found the result was completely safe on the hand. As the Emiratis' fighting spirits completely demoralized, Ismail Ahmed was shown a straight red card late on for dangerous play in 90+1'. Substitute Hamid Ismail, who replaced Akram Afif, made the final string by rounding off the scoring over Eisa to confirm Qatar's place in the final. With Qatar put the last replacement, Tameem Al-Muhaza replacing Ró-Ró, the referee blew the whistle and Qatari players celebrated its first ever Asian Cup final in the history over the disgruntled Emirati side.[25]

Details
Qatar 4–0 United Arab Emirates
 Report
Attendance: 38,646
Qatar
United Arab Emirates
GK1Saad Al Sheeb
CB23Assim Madibo
CB16Boualem Khoukhi
CB4Tarek Salman
RWB2Ró-Ró 90+4'
LWB3Abdelkarim Hassan
CM10Hassan Al-Haydos (c)
CM14Salem Al-Hajri
CM12Karim Boudiaf 62'
CF11Akram Afif 90+2'
CF19Almoez Ali 86'
Substitutions:
FW7Ahmed Alaaeldin 87' 86'
DF8Hamid Ismail 90+2'
DF13Tameem Al-Muhaza 90+4'
Manager:
Félix Sánchez
GK17Khalid Eisa
RB13Khamis Esmaeel
CB19Ismail Ahmed 90+1'
CB6Fares Juma (c)
LB3Walid Abbas
CM2Ali Salmeen
CM5Amer Abdulrahman 46'
RW9Bandar Al-Ahbabi
AM20Saif Rashid 70'
LW15Ismail Al Hammadi 51'
CF7Ali Mabkhout
Substitutions:
FW10Ismail Matar 55' 46'
FW11Ahmed Khalil 51'
MF16Mohamed Abdulrahman 70'
Manager:
Alberto Zaccheroni

Man of the Match:
Boualem Khoukhi (Qatar)

Assistant referees:[26]
Miguel Hernández (Mexico)
Alberto Morín (Mexico)
Fourth official:
Ravshan Irmatov (Uzbekistan)
Video assistant referee:
Paolo Valeri (Italy)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Muhammad Taqi (Singapore)
Chris Beath (Australia)

Aftermath
 
Round of 16Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
              
 
20 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 
 Thailand1
 
24 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 China PR2
 
 China PR0
 
20 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 Iran3
 
 Iran2
 
28 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 Oman0
 
 Iran0
 
20 January – Al Maktoum
 
 Japan3
 
 Jordan1 (2)
 
24 January – Al Maktoum
 
 Vietnam (p)1 (4)
 
 Vietnam0
 
21 January – Sharjah
 
 Japan1
 
 Japan1
 
1 February – Zayed Sports City
 
 Saudi Arabia0
 
 Japan
 
22 January – Rashid
 
 Qatar
 
 South Korea (a.e.t.)2
 
25 January – Zayed Sports City
 
 Bahrain1
 
 South Korea0
 
22 January – Al Nahyan
 
 Qatar1
 
 Qatar1
 
29 January – Mohammed bin Zayed
 
 Iraq0
 
 Qatar4
 
21 January – Zayed Sports City
 
 United Arab Emirates0
 
 United Arab Emirates (a.e.t.)3
 
25 January – Hazza bin Zayed
 
 Kyrgyzstan2
 
 United Arab Emirates1
 
21 January – Khalifa bin Zayed
 
 Australia0
 
 Australia (p)0 (4)
 
 
 Uzbekistan0 (2)
 

The match was marred by bottle and footwear-throwing incidents committed by the UAE supporters which occurred throughout of the match and became more intense as Qatar proved to be too strong for the host nation. This conduct was preceded by booing the Qatari national anthem.[27][28][29] The two countries have had a hostile relationship and had cut ties due to the ongoing diplomatic crisis.[30] After the match, Emirati fans had reacted with disgust and fury over the unbelievable defeat of the home team, and had tried to break into the stadium for a possible brawl with Qatari squad, but no avail.[31]

The outcome of the match was so humiliating that manager Alberto Zaccheroni had to apologize for the home fans, as his contract also expired following the end of the tournament.[31] The defeat was also the first ever Emirati defeat to Qatar since 2002, ending the country's 17 years undefeated streak over the Gulf rival. Criticism ran against the UAE for its failure to contain fans' hooliganism throughout the match.[31] Moreover, the defeat meant it was the United Arab Emirates' heaviest defeat ever against Qatar in their competitive history.[32]

Unaccepting the defeat, the United Arab Emirates Football Association lodged a formal appeal to the AFC over the eligibility of Sudanese-born Almoez Ali and Iraqi-born Bassam Al-Rawi, claiming that they did not qualify to play for Qatar on residency grounds per Article 7 of the Regulations Governing the Application of the FIFA statutes, which states a player is eligible to play for a representative team if he has "lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant association".[33] It was alleged that Ali and Al-Rawi had not lived continuously in Qatar for at least five years over the age of 18, although the players claimed that their mothers were born in Qatar.[34]

Only hours prior to the start of the final on 1 February 2019, the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee announced that it had dismissed the protest lodged by the UAEFA.[35][36]

For Qatar, the win meant Qatar entered their first ever Asian Cup final for the first time. The win sent many Qataris into jubilant at home, as Qatar was seen more like a dark horse rather than a tournament's favorite.[37] It was superseded when Qatar managed to outplay Japan in the emphatic 3–1 final victory to take home the country's first ever football honor.[38] Qatar's victorious campaign further deepened the rivalry and tensions, as most Emirati newspapers struggled to provide a report about it.[39][40][41]

The United Arab Emirates were fined $150,000 and was originally asked to play two home matches without spectators.[42][43] The decision was later appealed by the UAEFA. It was believed that the President of the AFC, Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa, had his role behind the reversal of the ban, given his Bahraini nationality and Bahrain's participation in the blockade against Qatar.

See also

References
  1. James Masters. "Qatar takes bragging rights in 'blockade derby'". CNN.
  2. "Asian Cup 2019: UAE v Qatar as it happened - Alberto Zaccheroni's side beaten 4-0 in semi-final". The National.
  3. "Qatar thrash UAE to reach Asian Cup football final". www.aljazeera.com.
  4. "Alberto Zaccheroni appointed as coach of UAE football team". gulfnews.com.
  5. "Felix Sanchez appointed as Qatari Football Team Coach for Tokyo 2020". 24 September 2019.
  6. Tamara Qiblawi, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Elizabeth Roberts, Hamdi Alkhshali. "Qatar rift: Saudi, UAE, Bahrain, Egypt cut ties". CNN.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. editor, Patrick Wintour Diplomatic (23 June 2017). "Qatar given 10 days to meet 13 sweeping demands by Saudi Arabia" – via www.theguardian.com.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "Political tension spills on the pitch between UAE and Qatar in AFC U19". foxnews. 18 October 2018.
  9. "Qatari organiser, media delegation denied entry for attending Asian Cup in UAE: Report". www.thepeninsulaqatar.com.
  10. Tariq Panja (3 January 2019). "Top Qatari Soccer Official Barred From Tournament in U.A.E." The New York Times. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  11. "Qataris can re-enter UAE with prior permission: Ministry". Khaleej Times. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  12. "Qatar kicks off 2019 Asian Cup with 2-0 win over Lebanon". www.efe.com.
  13. "Cut-off from fans, Qatar thrashes North Korea 6-0 in Asian Cup". www.thepeninsulaqatar.com.
  14. "Qatar beat Saudi Arabia thanks to Almoez Ali double". AS.com. 17 January 2019.
  15. "Qatar dump Iraq out of 2019 Asian Cup". www.kurdistan24.net. 22 January 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  16. "Qatar shock South Korea 1-0 to reach Asian Cup semifinal". Arab News. 25 January 2019.
  17. "Omar Abdulrahman injury hits UAE hard and deprives 2019 Asian Cup of a star player". The National.
  18. "Hosts UAE held 1-1 by Bahrain in AFC Asian Cup opener - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com.
  19. Kumar, Ashwani. "AFC Asian Cup: Hosts UAE beat India 2-0". Khaleej Times.
  20. "AFC Asian Cup 2019, UAE 1 Thailand 1: Hosts through as Group A winners despite draw". www.mykhel.com. 14 January 2019.
  21. "Khalil spot-kick rescues hosts in extra time". AS.com. 21 January 2019.
  22. "Asian Cup 2019: Host UAE beat Australia to reach semis". www.aa.com.tr. 25 January 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  23. "Japan seal Asian Cup 2019 final spot with second half blitz". AS.com. 28 January 2019.
  24. Arab, The New. "#AsianCup2019: UAE buys up tickets for politically-charged Qatar match 'to block Doha fans from attending'". alaraby.
  25. "Qatar 4-0 UAE". AFC. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  26. "MATCH OFFICIALS FOR JANUARY 28 & 29". AFC. Retrieved 27 January 2019.
  27. Aditya (29 January 2019). "Watch: Fans throw shoes at the Qatar players after Almoez Ali scores their second goal against the UAE in the AFC Asian Cup 2019". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  28. "With Shoes and Insults Flying, Qatar Beats U.A.E. and Advances to Asian Cup Final". The New York Times. Associated Press. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  29. "Asian Cup: Qatar pelted with shoes by hostile UAE fans as they thrash hosts 4-0 to reach final". South China Morning Post. Agence France-Presse. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  30. "Qatar 4-0 United Arab Emirates". BBC. 29 January 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  31. "How the Emirati crowd turned against Qatari footballers". How the Emirati crowd turned against Qatari footballers.
  32. https://www.11v11.com/teams/united-arab-emirates/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Qatar/
  33. "FIFA Statutes 2015" (PDF). April 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  34. "UAE lodge formal protest with AFC over eligibility of two Qatar players at Asian Cup". The National. 31 January 2019.
  35. "UAE FA protest dismissed". The-AFC.com. Asian Football Confederation. 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  36. Mulvenney, Nick; Cornwell, Alexander (1 February 2019). "UAE protest at eligibility of Qataris dismissed on day of final". Reuters. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  37. "Flip flops fly as Qatar beats UAE". www.dailytelegraph.com.au. 29 January 2019.
  38. "Football: Qatar celebrates historic Asian Cup win". www.aa.com.tr. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  39. "Qatar Asian Cup victory to 'deepen' Gulf tensions: analysts". Sportstar.
  40. "Media in blockading countries struggle to report on Qatar victory". Al Jazeera. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  41. Prashant, N. D. (1 February 2019). "Japan come up short in Asian Cup final". Gulf News. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  42. "UAE FA Fined for fan conduct against Qatar in Asian Cup". beIN Sports. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
  43. "AFC DEC issues USD$150,000 fine on UAE FA". Asian Football Confederation. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.