Qatar 2-1 UAE Highlights, FIFA World Cup AFC Qualifiers: Afif Stars As Hosts Seal World Cup Qualification

A warm welcome to all our readers tuning in to the start of our live blog for the Qatar vs UAE match. This is a virtual finale in Doha, with the winner being awarded a place in next year’s World Cup.

Kick-off is scheduled for 10:30 PM IST, so stay tuned for pre-match updates and lineups as they are released.

The FIFA World Cup AFC qualifying match between Qatar and UAE will be live-streamed in India on the FanCode app and website. You can also follow the Qatar vs UAE live scores on Outlook India for free.

Fans in Qatar and the UAE can watch the match live on Shoof, beIN Sports Connect, and beIN Sports HD 1. Alkass Five will also stream the match in Dubai, and Emirati fans can also use TOD, Dubai Sports Asia 1, Abu Dhabi Sporst Asia 1, and Sharjah Sports.

Starting XI: Mahmud Abunad (gk); Mohamed Naceur Almanai, Boualem Khoukhi (c), Sultan Al Brake, Ayoub Al Oui; Pedro Miguel; Almoez Ali, Assim Madibo, Akram Afif, Karim Boudiaf; Edmilson Junior

Bench: Shehab Ellethy (gk), Meshaal Barsham (gk), Tarek Salman, Homam Ahmed, Lucas Mendes, Abdelaziz Hatem, Ahmed Al Ganehi, Hassan Al Haydos, Ahmed Fathy, Mohammed Muntari, Tahsin Mohammed, Sebastian Soria

Starting XI: Khalid Eisa (gk) (c); Marcus Meloni, Rubel Amaral, Lucas Pimenta, Kouame Autonne; Nicolas Gimenez, Alaeddine Zouhir, Yahia Nader, Caio Canedo; Caio, Ali Saleh

Bench: Ali Khasif (gk), Hamad Al Meqebaali (gk), Khaled Aldhanhani, Khalifa Al-Hammadi, Erik, Harib Suhail, Luan Pereira, Fabio Lima, Bruno Oliveira, Abdulla Ramadan, Majed Hassan, Sultan Adil

Qatar: 🔴L 🟢W 🔴L 🔴L ⚫D

UAE: 🟢W ⚫D ⚫D 🟢W 🟢W

The referee blows his whistle, and Qatar get the match underway. It's a must-win clash, with the winner winning the group and gaining direct entry to the World Cup. Crucially, for the UAE, even a draw will suffice, but they will aim for all three points. Who will win? Stay tuned!

Qatar have started the match really well. Afif runs with the ball and crosses it across the face of the goal, but the resulting shot brings out a good save from Eisa. Al Oui, meanwhile, can't keep the rebound on target.

There's a bit of comedy on the touchlines as well, as two Qatari players tackle Saleh, who then clatters into Lopetegui, knocking the winds out of the Spanish manager.

Qatar have continued to control the ball and have been winning the midfield battle. However, the Emirati defensive line is holding strong, and Eisa has had no serious trouble on his goal so far. It's a fairly low line from Cosmin Olariou's side, knowing a draw is enough to go to the World Cup.

UAE have found their foothold in the match, and Qatari defence is under serious pressure from the Emirati forwards. After a curling effort from Gimenez is tipped behind by the goalkeeper, Saleh has one of the best chances in the match.

A cross into the box by Saleh found the Brazilian-born forward in the box, and his unmarked header towards the near post goes inches wide.

The game is getting a bit stretched and confined to the midfield, with neither side able to hold on to posession for long. Gimenez attempted an ambitious through ball, but it was cut out before reaching the forwards.

Meanwhile, Akram Afif went for a lofted cross into the box, and it evaded the defenders and almost found the foot of the onrushing Edmilson, but it went just wide.

What a chance for Qatar! A super delivery from Edmilson from the right flank found Almanai in the box, completely unmarked and under no pressure at all. However, his downwards header goes just wide of the post, and he puts his head in hands in disappointment.

Qatar win a free-kick on the right flank, and Afif floats in a good ball into the box. However, none of his teammates were in the box to get on the end of it. UAE fail to clear the danger completely, and Almoez Ali has a snap shot that is blocked by the defence, which finally hoofs it forward.

The fourth official indicates a minimum of four additional minutes. Qatar are pushing hard for an equaliser, but they are not able to break the midfield wall sitting in front of the defence, having little space to operate in. This game needs a moment of personal magic.

After the end of added time, the referee brings the first half to a close. UAE will be extremely happy with the way they have dealt with their opponents, knowing that a draw is enough for them.

For Lopetegui, however, it has been anything but a good half, with his side not pressing hard nor winning the fifty-fifties. The hosts need to improve to get a positive result from the second half.

The players are back from the lemon break and the second half gets underway. Qatar now kicking from right to left and UAE the other way. One of these teams will attain glory after 45 or so minutes. Who will it be?

This is just the breakthrough that Qatar were looking for. It all comes down from a terrific ball from the right by Afif, and it finds the head of the skipper, Khoukhi, who makes no mistake from close range to put the hosts ahead and on the path to the World Cup next year.

Going behind seems to have awaken UAE, and the are trying to move forward in numbers in search of an equaliser - probably the most important goal in their history. However, they must be careful not to rush things and conceded another.

Meanwhile, former Real Madrid attacker Joselu, who plays for Al-Gharafah now, is in the stands donning a Qatari jersey.

A double change for Qatar. On comes 41-year-old Sebastian Soria to make his first international appearance for Qatar after a gap of eight years - stunning. Also comes on left-back Luceas Mendes, replacing the injured Khoukhi. Almoez Ali is also off.

Earlier, UAE had replaced Zouhir with Luan Perreira.

Time is running out for UAE, and Cosmin Olaroiu has decided to make a triple change to freshen up their attack. On comes Sultan Adil, Erik, and Harib Suhail. They replace Caio Canedo, Ali Saleh, and Ruben Amaral. Can these fresh legs break down Qatar's 's resolute defence that has held strong all night?

Pedro Miguel, the defensive rock, turns up on the other end and puts in a bullet header that doubles Qatar's lead. It's Afif at the heart of it again, with his inch-perfect delivery from the left flank finding Ro-Ro at the right post, and the Portugal-born player heads it past Eisa.

With Qatar happy to sit deep and let UAE pass the ball around in their own half, very little has come in terms of chances. UAE, remember, need to score two unanswered goals to keep themselves at the top of the group. If the scores stay like this, however, they have to go through another round of qualifiers.

This is the last thing that Qatar would have wanted. Tarek Salman, who had come on only a few minutes ago, sees red. After a bad foul from the defender, the referee had earlier decided to book him. But VAR asked him to take another look at it on the monitor, after which, the yellow is upgraded to a red.

Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates a minimum of FIFTEEN minutes of added time to be played.

Can it be?! After creating almost nothing of note in the opening part of injury time, UAE roar back as Fabio finds Erik in the box, who unleashes a powerful shot that beats Abunada - who was yet to be tested seriously so far. First shot on target for the Emirates, and it's the first goal. They have six more minutes to get another one.

That's that at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, and it's hosts Qatar who confirm their place in the World Cup for the second year running. It was a terrific performance from them, despite going down a man and conceding a late goal. UAE, meanwhile, will move on to the fifth-round.