DOHA: Hosts Qatar kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the second round of the World Hockey League alive with a fighting 2-1 win over Sri Lanka at the Al Rayyan Stadium here yesterday.
The hosts finished their league engagements in the five-team round- robin tournament with a tally of nine points from four matches.
Qatar will have to wait for the outcome of today’s match to know about their qualification fate.
Shaiful Azli’s coached side will be hoping for an upset win for Sri Lanka against table-toppers Azerbaijan, and that too by a huge margin, in the last match of the championship today.
Azerbaijan is currently leading the points tally with nine points from three matches and also enjoy a better difference over Qatar.
In yesterday’s second match, the hosts took the lead through Rafaqat Ali who scored in the 11th minute.
Qatar increased the lead in the 30th minute with Nor Hafiq of a penalty corner conversion.
In the second half, Sri Lanka pulled one back in the 41st minute through Upul Warnakula.
Thereafter, Sri Lanka kept pressing for the equaliser but the Qatar forwards were able to keep the rival forwards at bay yesterday.
In the first match, Azerbaijan trounced a fighting Oman 3 – 1 to maintain their perfect record.
Saleh Balamiyev gave Azerbaijan the lead in the 25th minute while Oman equalized five minutes through a penalty corner strike from Hubais Al Shar.
In the second half, Azerbaijan scored through quick goals to put the issue beyond doubt.
Tarig Aziz and Saleem Khalid scored in the 56th and 60th minute for the winners. Both Oman and Sri Lanka have three points from an equal number of matches.
Oman takes on bottom sitters Turkey in today’s first match.
Only one team will qualify for Round 2 from the Qatar leg of the World Hockey League organised by FIH.
The World Hockey League will be held over two years, and will serve as qualifiers for the Olympics and the Hockey World Cup.
The World Hockey League has been developed by the FIH to present hockey at its best whilst also providing rapidly improving hockey nations with a stage to show what they are capable of.
The event in Qatar is the eighth World Hockey League Round 1 event to take place with Poland, Ukraine, Bangladesh, Ireland, Austria, Egypt, Scotland, Portugal, Trinidad & Tobago, Chile and USA winning through to the second round.
The Peninsula
