Qatar produced a brilliant second half performance to come back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Paraguay in their first ever Copa America game on Sunday at Brazil’s iconic Maracana stadium.
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.
Hoje os torcedores do Catar ?? decoraram o estádio do Maracanã junto com os da Albirroja ?? na @CONMEBOL #CopaAmerica ?? pic.twitter.com/3DwYwfNSYp
— Copa América (@CopaAmerica) June 17, 2019
Qatar, who swept to victory at the Asian Cup by scoring 19 goals and only conceding once, caused their opponents plenty of problems later in the half but failed to capitalise, with striker Almoez Ali missing a glaring attempt from close range.
Early in the second half, Cardozo had another strike ruled out after a VAR-review but Paraguay did not have to wait long to double their lead as Derlis Gonzalez struck in the 56th minute with a long-range rocket.
Qatar’s brave performance looked to be in vain until 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 levelled with a scrappy finish helped by some poor goalkeeping from Paraguay’s Robert Fernandez.
“We dominated the game in several phases and despite being 2-0 down the team never stopped believing,” said Qatar’s Spanish manager Felix Sanchez, who began his coaching career in Barcelona’s youth system.
Matias Rojas squandered a chance to restore Paraguay’s lead late on but Qatar could have snatched victory themselves in stoppage time when they burst forward on the counterattack but the promising move came to an end due to a misplaced pass.
Colombia lead Group B on three points after beating Argentina 2-0 on Saturday, while Paraguay and Qatar have a point each.