Football news - Qatar shake up Copa with thrilling comeback against Paraguay
ByReuters
Updated 16/06/2019 at 21:45 GMT
Qatar fought their way back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Paraguay in their first ever Copa America game on Sunday, proving they will be no pushovers in the tournament by pulling off a thrilling revival at a near-empty Maracana stadium.
Qatar's Boualem Khoukhi (R) celebrates with teammate Hassan Al-Haydos after scoring against Paraguay during their Copa America football tournament group match at Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on June 16, 2019.
Image credit: Getty Images
The 2022 World Cup hosts are one of two guest teams at the South American championship along with Japan.
However, their debut got off to a nightmare start when Paraguay's Oscar Cardozo smashed in from the penalty spot in the fourth minute.
Qatar caused their opponents plenty of problems but after Cardozo had another strike ruled out after a VAR-review, the Asian Cup champions conceded again when Derlis Gonzalez scored early in the second half with a long-range rocket.
Striker Almoez Ali made amends for spurning an earlier sitter by pulling his side back into the game with a distance strike which looped into the net in the 68th minute.
Nine minutes later, Boualem Khoukhi surprisingly levelled with a scrappy finish to salvage a point for the underdogs.
Qatar face Colombia in their second match on Wednesday 19 June, before their final Group B match on Sunday 23 against Lionel Messi's Argentina.
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