Qatar see off Maldives for fifth qualifier win

The final scoreline somewhat flattered the 2022 World Cup hosts who took almost 70 minutes to ensure they maintained their perfect start to qualifying for the finals in Russia in three years time.

Regardless of the performance, however, the victory maintained Qatar’s five point cushion at the top of AFC Group C, following Hong Kong’s narrow win in Bhutan earlier.

And it means they now require just two more victories at most to automatically progress from the group into the next round of qualification.

Despite that, Qatar's coach Jose Daniel Carreno, said qualification was still not certain.

"I don't think we can say that mathematically we have qualified but we are going on the right path," he said.

It was Qatar’s second home victory in less than a week, after beating rivals China 1-0 in the same Al Sadd stadium on October 8.

Prior to the match, Carreno had warned his team would struggle to match the performance from that game and his prediction proved right.

The Qataris seemed lethargic at the start and provided little goal threat until the 20th minute when Karim Bouadiaf went close after the Maldives keeper Mohamed Imran was stranded out of goal after misjudging a through ball.

The breakthrough came eight minutes later, when Qatar fashioned a fine move to leave midfielder Boualem Khouki free in the penalty area and he cooly finished.

It was to be their only goal of the first half.

Carreno admitted afterwards that he was concerned by sloppy defending and passing during the first 45 minutes but was pleased by the response of his players in the second half.

Gradually, Qatar exerted more pressure but it was not until the 68th minute however that they finally made sure of the three points, when Mohammed Kasola powered in a cross at the far post to the relief of many in the 4,006 crowd.

Two minutes later it was 3-0, when Boualem added his second from a corner.

The goal provided a curious incident when in their celebrations, Qatari fans threw ticker tape onto the pitch, causing the Maldives players to complain and the ref to order four cleaners with bin bags onto the pitch to tidy up the mess.

A goal in the 90th minute from full back Mohamed Musa rounded off the evening for Qatar but was a little harsh on the Maldives.

Their coach, New Zealander Ricki Herbert in only his second game in charge, said he was "very proud" of his team, made-up of part-timers, for staying in the game for so long.

"Qatar are top of the group for no reason other than they are the best team in the group by a long way," he said.

Qatar's next game is away to Bhutan, who they beat 15-0 at home, in November.