Sublime Soria strike gives Qatar hope

Qatar kept alive their hopes of making 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ with a 1-0 win over Lebanon in their Group A qualifier today.

A brilliant 75th minute strike from their Uruguayan-born striker Andres Quintana, better known as Sebastian Soria, gave Qatar three points which took the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts' tally to seven in the five-team group, putting them on par with Korea Republic and Iran, while just one shy of leaders Uzbekistan.

Lebanon are the only team Qatar have beaten in the final phase of qualifying, today's win being their second over Theo Bucker's side following their 1-0 victory in June where Soria had also scored. Soria's goal was a terrific solo effort that began outside the Qatar penalty and area saw him advance with the ball a considerable distance before his cracking 40-yard strike swerved into the net, stunning the Lebanon defence.

An ecstatic Soria ran up to the stands for an extended celebration with his family members. Qatar could have doubled the margin a few moments later but the Ghana-born Lawrence Quaye found his shot, from a Soria pass, blocked by the Lebanon goalkeeper Abbas Hassan.

Qatar, however, survived a close shave later when veteran midfielder Roda Antar's powerful drive brought out a splendid save from goalkeeper Qassim Burhan, his diving effort saving a sure-shot goal. Qatar had another chance to increase their lead in stoppage time in the second-half but Quaye's shot from outside the penalty area went wide.

"This was a much needed win for us and thanks to Sebastian we are now alive in the qualifiers," said Qatar coach Paulo Autuori. "We should have played much better but a win is a win."

Bucker also praised Soria's strike, feeling that was the difference between the two teams. "The match could have gone anyway but Soria's goal proved decisive. You cannot do anything in such a situation."

View the original article here

Luxembourg strike late to deny Northern Ireland

AppId is over the quota
AppId is over the quota

Northern Ireland had to accept a demoralising home draw against Luxembourg, after a match they dominated ended with the visitors scoring a heavily deflected equaliser in the 86th minute.

The evening had started so promisingly for Michael O'Neill's side, with Dean Shiels claiming his first international goal with a deft finish in the 14th minute. The hosts had nearly all of the meaningful chances thereafter, with three goals disallowed and Chris Brunt hitting the post, only for Daniel Da Mota's shot to squirm home via Ryan McGivern's shoulder.

Coming on the back of a 2-0 defeat to Russia, Northern Ireland's 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ qualifying hopes are already hanging by a thread.

Having set his team out for containment in Moscow, with Kyle Lafferty often stranded at the head of a defensive 4-5-1 formation, O'Neill selected a more attack-minded XI in Belfast. Shiels returned in the No10 role, with Shane Ferguson back on the left side of midfield and the more aggressive McGivern replacing Craig Cathcart behind him.

Northern Ireland started with real purpose, almost scoring in the first minute. The chance came from a corner, won after good interplay between Lafferty and Shiels.

Brunt floated it to West Bromwich Albion team-mate Gareth McAuley who, after winning the header, directed the ball straight at the goalkeeper. A loose pass from McGivern gifted Aurelien Joachim space to shoot, only for Jonny Evans to make the block.

Then Northern Ireland took the lead through Shiels. Somewhat surprisingly Evans played the role of creator, surging upfield and exchanging neat passes with the Rangers man. Evans' second pass cut open the defence and Shiels lifted his shot deftly over the oncoming Jonathan Joubert.

After 21 minutes Evans thought he had made it 2-0 himself from a neat corner routine, but the goal was ruled out due to a push.

There was disappointing news in the 29th minute when McAuley received his second booking in as many matches to rule him out of next month's trip to Portugal. The hosts had a second effort disallowed soon after, Lafferty stroking a fine effort into the top corner after good work from Chris Baird, only to be pulled up for offside.

In the five minutes before half-time, Northern Ireland had three presentable chances to add to their lead. Shiels failed to make the most of Guy Blaise's slip, then Lafferty chipped high and wide after being teed up by Brunt, who himself might have shot. The West Brom man then found Baird with a bullet corner, but the latter's header flashed inches wide of the far post.

Luxembourg sent on Maurice Deville to lead the line for the second half in place of Joachim and they looked a sturdier proposition as the second half got under way. Winger Mario Mutsch attempted to stretch the home back four five minutes into the second period but Evans was on hand with a forceful sliding tackle.

A McGivern overlap set Northern Ireland back on the attack but although Shiels got his head to Steven Davis' cross, a red shirt blocked it on its way towards goal. Unbelievably, the home side had a third effort struck off by the officials on the hour, Lafferty in an offside position when he sidefooted Ferguson's cross home. Had their advantage not been so slender, Northern Ireland may even have found some humour in the situation.

Lafferty, given onside for once, saw a 20-yard shot brush the outside of the post via Joubert's gloves but otherwise the closing stages were an increasingly nervy affair as Luxembourg pressed forward.

Davis gave Brunt the chance to ease the pressure with seven minutes left but, after meeting the carefully-measured pass, he rolled his shot against the base of the post.

Then, just moments later, the sucker punch arrived. With too many green shirts committed forward, Luxembourg surged up the pitch and a shot opened up for Da Mota. His effort appeared to be heading wide until it took a huge deflection off McGivern's shoulder to leave Roy Carroll stranded.

The Luxembourg bench celebrated emphatically, leaving the home fans to boo their players off at the final whistle.

View the original article here