Qatar beat Singapore to make a flying start

Qatar and Jordan kicked off their AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2025 Qualifiers Group J campaigns with impressive wins on Wednesday.
At the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium in Al Duhail, hosts secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Singapore. Qatar got off to a dream start, taking the lead as early as the ninth minute through Ibrahim Mohammadali.
Mohamed Khaled Gouda doubled their joy in the 20th minute as Singapore were left with a mountain to climb going into the break. Qatar maintained their high tempo approach in the second half and went 3-0 up in the 54th minute, midfielder Bassam Adel Eid finding the back of the net with the West Asian side then content to see out the remainder of the match.
Meanwhile, Jordan were even more prolific, thrashing Hong Kong 7-0 in the simultaneous kick-off at the Grand Hamad Stadium. The opening minutes were a cagey affair but Jordan gradually began to exert their grip on the game.
After several half chances, the West Asian side finally found the back of the net through forward Odeh Burhan Fakhoury in the 37th minute. It got worse for Hong Kong as they were hit again five minutes later with Mahmoud Mohammad Theeb doubling Jordan’s advantage.
Any hope Hong Kong had of mounting a comeback in the second half were dashed by Abdelrahman Alkhdour’s goal in the 47th minute. Jordan, aware that goal difference could be pivotal, continued to push and were rewarded again through Ibrahim Mohammad Sabra (51st), Omar Khader Joo (60th), Mohammad Ahmed Taha (80th) and Anas Ashraf Alkhob (90th).
On Friday, action will see Jordan playing Singapore while Qatar will face Hong Kong. All 10 group winners, along with the five best-placed runners-up, will progress to the final and be joined by 1985 champions China, who are hosting the U-20 Asian Cup for a second time after their first in 2010. Qatar have emerged triumphant in 2014 and have qualified for each of the past five editions.