DOHA: Qatar suffered an early exit after losing 4-3 on penalties to Australia at the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Asian Qualifiers, yesterday.
The hosts, coached by Nenem produced a battling display after being thrashed 7-3 by Afghanistan on the opening day.
However, despite holding Australia 3-3 in normal-time, Qatar could not edge their opponents in the penalty shoot-out.
Elsewhere, defending champions Japan were made to work for their 6-5 victory over Lebanon to boost their chances of advancing to the semi-finals of the competition.
The match was one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament with eleven goals scored at Katara Beach.
Iran beat regional rivals Iraq 10-3 to set up a crucial winner- takes-all match against China.
China scored 11 goals past the Philippines, who will clash with Iran in a match that begins at 7:00 today.
The duel will determine who advances to the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, UAE, coached by Marcelo Mendes, were convincing in their 5-2 win against Palestine.
Mendes’ side top Group C which puts them in pole position to advance to the semi-finals.
Elsewhere, Oman, who lost to Australia on Tuesday, crushed Afghanistan 7-0.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia kept their semi-final hopes alive by beating Uzbekistan 8-6, yesterday.
THE PENINSULA
