Historic first victory for Qatar

Hosts Qatar created history by winning their first international hockey match, beating favourites Brazil 3-2 in the first of a five-match series at the Al Rayyan Stadium, yesterday.

Qatar dominated the play right through the first session but only got the breakthrough five minutes from the break. Nor Hafiq put Qatar in the driver’s seat with a clinical dragflick off a penalty corner.

Bouyed by the goal, Qatar conducted a series of raids after the change of end and were rewarded quickly. This time it was their ace striker Savio Nayak who got into the scoring act. Nayak struck through a brilliant reverse hit from an acute angle finding the roof of the goal after being fed by Hafiq.

Despite trailing by two goals, the boys from the land of Samba quickly got their acts together and reduced the margin through Luis Reus in the 45th minute. However, unlike in the two matches against Oman, where the hosts were guilty of squandering the advantage, here they did not let things slip.

Qatar made sure not let their opponents gain in confidence and removed the wind completely from the sails of the young Brazilian side with another crafty goal in the 53rd minute through Tariq Nazir. His slap shot off a Sheraz Ali release from the left beat the Brazilian custodian hands down.

Thereafter, the hosts played for time but the visitors salvaged some pride by sneaking a goal in the dying minutes through a penalty corner, Matheus Borges being the scorer for the visitors.  

“It’s a good start for Qatar as Brazil is a good team and they have good basics. This is good start for us.

“We could have done well against Oman especially in the second match where we led 2-0 and that hurt us more. Today, we were determined not to let things slip,” said an elated Nayak after the match.

Qatar’s Malaysian coach Shaiful Azli was pretty pleased with his wards showing but also had words of caution for them.

“I think the boys played better and they seemed to have learnt from their mistakes against Oman. Still, there is lot to improve.

“However, there are four more matches to go and I’m sure Brazil will come back hard at us. This was just their first match and so we have to be on our toes tomorrow,” said a delighted Azli.

Source: Gulf Times