Qatar secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup with a 1-0 victory over Mexico in the final match of Group ‘B’. The match took place at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. Qatar’s win, combined with Honduras’ 2-1 victory over Haiti, ensured their place in the knockout stage as the second-place finisher in the group. They will now face the first-place finisher of Group C next Saturday at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz was overjoyed with Qatar’s performance, praising the team’s fighting spirit and concentration. He emphasized the difficulty of the game against a strong team like Mexico but commended his players for their fantastic performance. Queiroz acknowledged that Mexico is an excellent team with distinguished players and regarded the match as a valuable learning experience for Qatar. He expressed confidence that the team will be better prepared for future matches against top teams.
Despite Mexico dominating possession and testing the Qatar defense, it was Qatar who broke the deadlock in the 27th minute. Musaab Khidir crossed the ball into the area from the right flank, and Hazem Shehata scored a powerful header to give Qatar a 1-0 lead. Mexico made several attempts to find an equalizer, including an Edson Alvarez header that went just over the crossbar in the 35th minute. Both Orbelin Pineda and Santiago Gimenez came close to scoring before halftime, but Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham denied their efforts.
As the game progressed, Mexico increased the pressure on Qatar and pushed them further back into their own area. Qatar responded with defensive substitutions, while Mexico focused on attacking. Mexico had multiple opportunities to score in the final 10 minutes, particularly from headers off corner kicks, but Barsham made crucial saves to secure the victory for Qatar.
Despite the loss, Mexico finished first in the group and will face the second-place team from Group C in the quarter-finals. In another Gold Cup match, the United States defeated Trinidad and Tobago 6-0, with Jesus Ferreira becoming the first player to score back-to-back hat-tricks for the United States. Jamaica also advanced to the quarter-finals by defeating St. Kitts and Nevis 5-0.
Both the United States and Jamaica finished the group stage with seven points, but the United States topped the group due to better goal difference. The United States will now face the second-place team from Group C, while Jamaica’s opponent in the quarter-finals is yet to be determined. The victories by Qatar, the United States, and Jamaica showcased their dominance in their respective groups and set the stage for thrilling quarter-final matchups.
Overall, Qatar’s triumph over Mexico highlighted their determination and resilience, earning them a spot in the knockout stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup. With their young squad and the guidance of coach Carlos Queiroz, Qatar will look to continue their impressive performance as they face stronger opposition in the later stages of the tournament.
