Metsu lauds Qatar 'achievement'

French coach Bruno Metsu, who lifted some gloom off himself, branded the team's 2-1 victory over Egypt an achievement.<br>

كتب : Hatem Maher

الخميس، 16 ديسمبر 2010 - 20:20
French coach Bruno Metsu, who lifted some gloom off himself, branded the team's 2-1 victory over Egypt an achievement.

Qatar claimed a surprise win over the African champions in a friendly at the Khalifa International Stadium, which was packed with enthusiastic Egyptian supporters.

"Qatar made an achievement tonight after a great display and result," Metsu, who was under pressure after his team suffered a group-stage exit from the Gulf Cup of Nations last month, told the post-match news conference.

"I'm proud after Qatar were able to defeat a team of very high caliber like Egypt."

Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Soria put the hosts in front on 21 minutes when he rounded off a neatly-worked counter attack.

A bizarre own goal by Egypt defender Wael Gomaa after a mix-up with keeper Abdul-Wahed Al-Sayed gifted Qatar the second before the break.

Substitute Walid Soliman pulled one back in the 73rd minute but Qatar held on for their first ever victory over Egypt after seven meetings.

"I'm happy that my players were capable of playing under the huge pressure of Egyptian fans," Metsu, who was approached by the Egyptian national team more than once during the past nine years, added.

"I felt that the match was played in Cairo. But this win will motivate us to do even better in the coming period."

Qatar are preparing for next month's AFC Asian Cup on home soil. They will play in Group A along with Kuwait, China and Uzbekistan.