Kuala Lumpur: Three of the Asia’s twelve remaining teams in the hunt for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification tuned up for next week’s matches with friendly matches on opposite sides of the continent.
Group A hopefuls and 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts Qatar enjoyed a confidence boosting 3-0 win over Thailand in Doha, while Iraq played out a 2-2 draw with A-League club Perth Glory on the west coast of Australia.
Qatar convincingly overcame the Thais thanks to two goals from Al Sadd’s Hasan Al Haidos and another from Rodrigo Tabata, in a performance that is sure to serve as a confidence booster ahead of Thursday’s away fixture against Asia’s number one ranked side Iran.
Jose Daniel Carreno’s team will then return to home soil for their Matchday Two clash with Uzbekistan.
For Thailand, also preparing for the final group stage, the loss comes as a timely reality check ahead of difficult qualifiers against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on Thursday and Japan in Bangkok the following week.
In Perth, Iraq took the lead through an own goal after 30 minutes then doubled their advantage through Mohammad Jabbar Shokan before goals from 18-year-old Kosta Petratos and veteran Richard Garcia salvaged a draw for the home side.
Iraq are set to remain in Perth as they prepare for their fixture against 2015 AFC Asian Cup winners Australia in the same city next Thursday, before flying north to Kuala Lumpur where they will meet Saudi Arabia on September 6.
Photo: Qatar Football Association
Source: the-afc.com