AFC U23 Asian Cup: Qatar and Al-Rawi impress at the opener

Sudesh Baniya in Jassim bin Hamad Stadium

DOHA: Half an hour before the kick-off, they were ready. A banner on the barricade and drums to accompany their rhythm, and everyone with some variation of red and white.

“Ultras Garuda Qatar,” the banner read, below those who chanted “IN-DO-NE-SIA”.

Before being outdone by a late first half penalty goal from Khaled Ali and then a sumptuous freekick from Ahmed Al-Rawi, the debutants mirrored the support on the pitch, giving the hosts a tough time in their own backyard.

But by the time the final whistle blew at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on Monday, Indonesia were scarred, down to ten men and the only thing that did not falter were their supporters.

It was close while the goalless stalemate lasted. Qatar had five shots by the time Indonesia attempted their first, created from a long throw into the box. Full-back Pratama Alif would be called up for long throws inside the box on multiple occasions as the game went on and two of their first shots on goal coming from the same routine.

Shin Tae-yong’s side showed clarity in intent from the beginning. Set pieces and quick transitions using his wingers. “We have the mindset to improve, continue to develop ourselves and hopefully, we have a good performance,” he said in advance of the opener.

In fact, Indonesia came close to scoring first, against the run of play, with winger Rafael Struick hitting the post five minutes before the half-time.

A foul on Mahdi Salem at the stroke of halftime is where it seemed to go wrong for the Tim Garuda. Qatar were awarded a penalty upon VAR’s consultation with Khaed Ali converting it down the middle against Ernando Ari, who had looked solid thus far.

Start of the second half was equally bad, if not worse, for Tae-yong. Preferring to contest and win as many duels as possible came to bite Indonesia back. Ivar Jenner got sent off not even a minute into the second half with a straight red – quicker than his first half yellow that he conceded in the fourth minute.

It was a smooth sail for Al Annabi from there on. Doubling the lead was Ahmed Al Rawi, with a free-kick at the far post around the wall – in the same post as his maiden senior team goal against Kuwait last month.

With Qatar now coming in front with confidence and Indonesia resorting to control damage, Yousef Abdullah did not have much to do at the Qatari post, except for a Marselino Ferdinan volley that he cleared the far post in the 63rd minute.

The final nail for Indonesia came in the added minutes of the second half – this time Ramadhan Sananta getting a straight red for stomping on Qatari Mohamed Aiash’s wrong foot.

Starting off with the win will pit Qatar as favorites to qualify from the group, aligning with coach Ilidio Vale’s intent to make it to Paris Olympics. “I want to reassure everyone that there is no pressure on our team. However, I would like the U23 squad to achieve the same excellent results of their seniors,” he said.

On the other side, Indonesia’s coach Shin Tae-yong will have the task in hand to rejuvenate to navigate the road forward in a tough group, salvaging the experience that he garnered leading Korea Republic to the quarter finals of the 2016 Olympics in Rio. But this time, he’ll have Ultras Garuda Qatar – who made the home team feel away – by his side.