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Queiroz, Lopetegui satisfied with point
Doha: Oman head coach Carlos Queiroz and his Qatar counterpart Julen Lopetegui viewed it as a point gained after their sides battled to a goalless draw in their AFC Asian Qualifiers™ – Road to 26 Playoffs Group A tie at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Wednesday.
While Qatar dominated possession, Oman's defensive resilience limited them to just two shots on target with the result leaving both teams' qualification hopes in their own hands.

Oman play the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, who then face Qatar three days later.

#AsianQualifiers - Road To 26 Playoffs | Group A : Oman 0-0 Qatar

#AsianQualifiers - Road To 26 Playoffs | Group A : Oman 0-0 Qatar

Queiroz was proud with how his side were able to subdue Qatar.

"We performed well and succeeded in halting the attacks of the Qatari team, who we had expected would push hard to achieve victory, given that they were playing on home soil," said Queiroz.

"We knew the match would be difficult, so we played with a high fighting spirit. Despite our good defensive performance, we created chances but failed to score."
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The vastly experienced Portuguese tactician admitted that sharing points was the best outcome.

"I believe a draw is the best result for both teams, as a loss would have significantly diminished our chances of qualifying for the World Cup.

"We don't have much time before the match against the UAE, and we will try to prepare well to achieve our dream of qualifying for the World Cup."
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While Oman are seeking a first appearance at the global showpiece, Qatar are bidding for a return to the Finals after having debuted as hosts in 2022 with Lopetegui expressing optimism that his side will advance.

"We performed well throughout the match but we faced a stubborn team that excelled at closing down defensive outlets.

"Despite that, we created numerous opportunities but failed to convert them. I am happy, however, that we kept fighting," said the Spanish tactician.
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With injuries affecting the team, Lopetegui felt Qatar had done their best given the circumstances.

"The starting lineup was ideal, given the injuries to some players. All the players who played gave their all to achieve the desired result, but the opportunities were not converted into goals.

"We will continue to pursue our dream of qualifying for the World Cup. The draw did not have a negative impact and will not put any pressure on the players ahead of the match against the UAE."