Emirates Beats Qatar 2-1 in Asian World Cup QualifierYasser Salem of the United Arab Emirates scored three minutes from time Thursday as his team beat Qatar 2-1 in a crucial Asian World Cup qualifier.The win put the Emirates in front of Qatar in Group B of the Asian Zone qualifiers with 10 points from seven matches. Qatar has nine from the same number of matches. China heads the group with 13 points from five matches. The other two teams in the group, Uzbekistan and Oman, are at the bottom of the group with seven and two points, receptively. Salem's fine effort in sultry playing conditions at the Khalifa Stadium was supplemented by Faisal Khaleel, who smartly chipped a header into the Qatar goal mouth in the 43rd minute of the first half. Soon after the restart, Qatar's youngster Waleed Hamza leveled the score for the home team, smashing a lose ball off a corner kick into the goal in the first minute after the break. Qatar, which travels to China for its last World Cup qualifier Oct. 13, failed to register a single victory in the four games on home territory. Qatar has never qualified for World Cup finals. Qatar is being coached by Paulo Campos of Brazil. Campos replaced Dzemal Hadziabdic of Bosnia midway through the World Cup qualifying campaign on Sept. 10. The two Asian group winners qualify for the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan. The two runners-up play a two-leg playoff series, with the winner facing a European team for another spot in soccer's biggest tournament. South Korea and Japan qualify as hosts. |
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