The Qatari team won first place in group D of the Concacaf Gold Cup on Tuesday and qualified for the quarterfinals after beating Honduras 2-0.
The Qataris were superior to the Hondurans, who woke up in the second half, but the effort was not enough to put the parity on the board. Qatar reached seven points, while Honduras, which was already classified to the quarterfinals, was left with six units in second place in group D.
The game, which was played at the BBVA Stadium in Houston, was very impressive, with the Hondurans wanting to control it from the start, but their rival, who stood up well in defense, did not give them freedom. The Qataris, attacking with Ahmed and Abdelaziz Hatim, imposed a quick game and arrivals within the framework of a disfigured rival.
Qatar saw the fruit of their fast-paced football in the 24th minute, when Ahmed beat Honduran goalkeeper Luis López with a powerful shot to make it 1-0. The Qataris' goal was a jug of cold water for Honduras, which saw how, as the minutes passed, those of Félix Sánchez began to feel more and more comfortable on the pitch.
Honduras, led by the Uruguayan Fabián Coito, who today tested positive for covid-19 in the tests carried out in the Gold Cup, suffered the loss due to injury of its captain Maynor Figueroa from minute 39, and was replaced by Marcelo Pereira. Akram Afif, in the 40th minute, had the second goal on his feet, but goalkeeper Luis “Buba” López saved a maximum penalty.
With the score in Qatar's favor, the teams went to rest, on the orders of the American referee Jair Marrufo. In the second section, the catrachos left the dressing room with everything, but Sánchez's team threw everything back to defend the goal and bet on the counterattack.
Qatar's insistence paid off and in the 94th minute midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim smashed the ball into the back of the net and declared the victory. Honduras will have to face Mexico, winner of group A, and Qatar the second, El Salvador, in the next phase.