Lima’s four-goal blitz leads UAE to 5-0 rout of Qatar

Fabio Lima scored four goals, including a first-half hat-trick, as the United Arab Emirates handed Qatar a 5-0 thrashing in Abu Dhabi yesterday to consolidate their hold on third place in Group B of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.Lima put Paulo Bento’s side ahead in the fourth minute before doubling the lead from the spot in the 45th minute and completed his hat-trick in the fifth minute of first half injury time with a stellar free-kick. He hit the fourth from the penalty spot in the 56th minute while Yahya al-Ghassani scored the UAE’s fifth with 17 minutes remaining.The UAE also defeated Qatar 3-1 in their first clash in Al Rayyan in September. A heavy defeat means Qatar remain in fourth on seven points having failed to build on their last-gasp win over Uzbekistan in Doha last week, which looked to have revitalised the nation’s qualifying bid.Victory moves the UAE onto 10 points from six games, three points behind second-placed Uzbekistan and a further three points adrift of leaders Iran in the battle for the two automatic berths at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.Qatar coach Marquez Lopez, whose job has come under increasing pressure just nine months after leading Al Annabi to Asian Cup title, said conceding early goal ruined his team’s plans. "I was not at my best and the team was not at their best, so we lost. We planned to approach the match with a specific strategy but the early goal disrupted our plans and the UAE outperformed us,” said the Spaniard.Lopez, who was aiming to build on Qatar’s last-minute victory over Uzbekistan, added: "We were looking forward to another win, but we couldn’t capitalise on the confidence gained from the previous match. We paid the price for individual mistakes from several players. Iran and Uzbekistan have an advantage in qualifying directly, while the rest of the teams still have hopes of qualifying directly or through the play-offs,” Lopez added.UAE made the perfect start, al-Ghassani powering down the left side in the fourth minute before delivering a low centre into the feet of Lima that the forward gladly swept in with a first-time finish.Boualem Khouki blasted his free-kick over the bar as Qatar chased the equaliser while Mohammed Waad went even closer, the midfielder hitting the post when his shot beat Khalid Eisa having been played in behind the defence following a surging run by Akram Afif.The woodwork was hit at the other end when al-Ghassani stepped onto his right foot to send a curling shot towards Meshaal Barsham’s goal, the ball not dipping quite enough to avoid smashing against the crossbar in the 32nd minute.With three minutes left in the half Bruno Oliveira was denied a second when he drove through the Qatar defence, Barsham saving that effort but, from the rebound, Harib Abdalla was brought down by Lucas Mendes and referee Khalid al-Turais pointed to the spot. Lima calmly converted, sending Barsham the wrong way with his penalty.There was more to come from the Brazil-born playmaker before the end of the half. After Abdalla had been brought down 30 yards from goal, Lima bent a vicious left-foot strike up and over the defensive wall that left Barsham groping at air.Matters went from bad to worse for Qatar when Barsham brought down al-Ghassani soon after the interval and Lima stepped up again to fire emphatically past the visiting goalkeeper.Ahmed Fathy hit the crossbar as Qatar sought a consolation but it was at the other end that the next goal came as al-Ghassani capped a fine performance when he slid the ball past Barsham at the end of a counterattack for the fifth.The World Cup qualifiers takes a three-month break with Qatar next match against North Korea at home on March 20, while UAE will aim to continue their resurgence when they meet group leaders Iran.