Qatar defeat Honduras 2-0 to secure CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal ticket
Qatar claimed the top spot in Group D and booked their quarterfinal ticket after defeating Honduras in a tightly contested 2-0 match at the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup at the BBVA Stadium in Houston today.
Homam Ahmed (25’) and Abdulaziz Hatem (94’) got on the scoresheet for the Asian Champions as they edged Los Catrachos, the 1981 Gold Cup winners, to the second position, thus eliminating Panama, who defeated Grenada 3-1, out of the competition.
Honduras was on the attack early and looked to be picking up where they left off against Panama, but then Romell Quioto picked up an injury in the 15th minute during the run of play and could not continue.
Los Catrachos had entered the match without the service of their star Alberth Elis, who suffered a fracture in one of the toes of his left foot during their last game against Panama, and the absence of the Boavista forward, who has 10 goals in 42 appearances with Honduras, was clearly missing against the high-pressing Qataris.
Honduras, who won their first two matches against Grenada and Panama, met Qatar for the first time ever. They have also reached the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2017 edition, and this year’s edition of the tournament was the third time that Los Catrachos have won their first two games in the Gold Cup. In the two previous times, they reached the final (1991) and the semifinals (2013).
After holding off pressure, Homam Ahmed struck to give Qatar the lead in the 25th minute of the match. It marked the third straight match in which the champions of Asia scored the opening goal.
Qatar kept pressing forward, but Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez denied Almoez Ali. Lopez provided another vital save after Qatar were awarded a penalty. The San Pedro Sula native denied another star for the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts, Akram Afif, from the spot to keep it a one-goal affair.
Honduras would lose another critical player to injury when team captain and all-time appearances leader Maynor Figueroa had to be pulled just before the half.
Honduras remained on the hunt for an equalizer into the second half, and Alexander Lopez, who scored for Honduras in the prior game against Panama, tried his luck in the 67th minute but was denied by defender Abdelkarim Hassan.
Abdelaziz Hatem was another player looking to score in his second consecutive match but was denied by Honduran defender Kevin Alvarez.
Hatim eventually got his second of the competition to secure the victory five minutes into second-half stoppage time, polishing off the three points with a strong finish.
Afif, Ali and Hatem lead Qatar in scoring in the Gold Cup with two goals each. Qatar also finished the group stage undefeated, with two wins and a draw in their first Gold Cup participation.
The coach Felix Sanchez’ team, one of the most lethal sides in the tournament, with nine goals scored so far, moves on to face El Salvador, while Honduras will be up against Mexico in the quarterfinals.
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