DOHA: Qatar held on for a morale-boosting 2-1 win over Egypt on Thursday in its first match since winning the right to host the 2022 World Cup.
The friendly match at the Khalifa Stadium attracted a capacity crowd of nearly 50,000, boosted by a large contingent of flag-waving Egyptian fans.
Sebastian Soria gave the hosts the lead from close range in the 23rd minute following a surging run by defender Mahammad Al Sayed, who beat two players before setting up the Uruguayan-born striker.
Egypt goalkeeper Abdulwahad Alsayed allowed defender Wael Gomaa’s back pass to trickle past him and into the net for an own goal to give Qatar a 2-0 lead in the 43rd.
Substitute Waleed Sulaiman pulled one back for the Africa Cup of Nations champions in the 72nd with a shot that went in off the post to make it a nervous finish for Qatar, but Bruno Metsu’s side saw out only its second win in the last year.
Since October, Qatar has been beaten by Iraq, Haiti and Kuwait, while beating Yemen and drawing with Saudi Arabia, to leave it 114th in FIFA’s latest rankings.
It next faces India in Doha as it continues its preparations for the Asian Cup, beginning Jan. 7.
