FIFA Arab Cup
The result left Julen Lopetegui’s side bottom of the standings with only a point to show. Tunisia, the 2021 runners-up, also missed out on advancing with Palestine and Syria taking the group’s two quarter-final spots.
Tunisia tested the waters as early as the second minute when Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane set up Marouane Sahraoui, who lobbed his effort over the bar before the Central African side’s relentless passing left Qatar stunned in the 16th minute.
Ben Romdhane sparked the move on the left, feeding Ali Maaloul to cut the ball back to Seifeddine Jaziri, who had his effort blocked by Meshaal Barsham, only for Ben Romdhane to pounce on the rebound and place his his shot well beyond the sprawling Qatar keeper.
Despite the home crowd advantage, Qatar barely troubled Tunisia, with Sultan Al Brake’s attempt from the edge of the box in the 27th minute comfortably collected by Tunisian goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.
Tunisia continued to dictate proceedings with another attacking sequence carving open the Qatari defence at the half-hour mark, with Ben Romdhane once again at the heart of the move in setting up Firas Chaouat, who pulled his shot narrowly wide.
Tunisia went in search of their second with Ben Romdhane and Seifeddine Jaziri both seeing their efforts blocked from inside the box, while Dahmen stayed firm at the other end to keep out Qatar’s advances.
The two-time AFC Asian Cup™ champions fell further behind in the 62nd minute with Yassine Meriah turning in Ferjani Sassi’s flick off a corner with a close-range header.
Tunisia were reduced to 10 men following Jaziri’s dismissal for a foul on Afif three minutes later but still scored a third through Mohamed Benali in stoppage time to leave Qatar frustrated.
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
