A neatly taken first half goal from Jassim Al Balabi gave the Qatar side the lead at the break and a close range strike from Afit Akram three minutes into the second half completed the scoring.
The best chance of the match for the New Zealand side fell to Wellington Phoenix midfielder Matt Ridenton who hit a 28th minute strike at Qatar goalkeeper Mohamed Al Bakri after being played in behind the visitors’ back four.
The Qatar side – who accounted for Australia 4-1 earlier in the week – opened the game on the front foot, seeing a claim for a penalty waved away in the sixth minute as Brock Messenger recovered to do just enough to clear the danger without drawing the foul.
In a game light on scoring chances in the first 25 minutes, the visitors were the first to register a shot – a ninth minute strike dragged wide of Oliver Sail’s goal.
Qatar continued to enjoy more sights of goal with several off target efforts coming and going before New Zealand had their first and best chance of the half; Ridenton released in behind the back four but his shot was disturbed by recovering defenders and was hit squarely at goalkeeper Mohamed Al Bakri.
The Asian Confederation side took the lead seven minutes before the break, a neat exchange on the edge of the area released Al Balabi in behind and he neatly rolled the ball past Sail into the bottom right corner of the net.
Three minutes into the second half they were 2-0 up, Akram prodding home from close range after the ball was squared into the six yard box from a throw in deep in New Zealand territory.
Darren Bazeley’s side responded by creating two chances in quick succession; Monty Patterson firing wide from his effort on the edge of the area before substitute Andrew Blake found space in behind the Qatar defense to square but his cut-back eluded everyone and the danger was cleared.
Clear cut scoring chances were hard to come by in the final 25 minutes with both sides regularly getting into threatening positions without finding the required touch or moment of quality at the crucial moment.
Fullback Deklan Wynne provided a regular attacking threat for the hosts with several excellent crosses causing problems for the retreating Qatar defense without connecting with onrushing New Zealand attackers.
In Sunday’s earlier game Panama beat Australia 7-1.
U-20 Five Nations Series
Sunday 10 May
New Zealand 0-2 Qatar (half-time: 0-1)
NZL:
QAT: Jassim Al Balabi 38’, Afit Akram 48’
New Zealand: 1. Oliver Sail (GK), 2. Brock Messenger (14. Andre de Jong 79’), 3. Deklan Wynne, 4. Moses Dyer (16. Te Atawhai Hudson-Wihongi 79’), 5. Jesse Edge, 6. Sam Brotherton (18. Adam Mitchell 66’), 7. Daniel Bowkett (15. Andrew Blake 46’), 8. Matt Ridenton (17. Luka Prelevic 46’), 9. Alex Rufer (21. Stuart Holthusen 46’), 10. Clayton Lewis, 11. Monty Patterson (19. Noah Billingsley 66’)
Substitutes not used: 12. Zac Speedy (GK), 13. Cory Brown, 20. Birhanu Taye
Coach: Darren Bazeley
Courtesy NZF Media
For more on New Zealand football, visit www.nzfootball.co.nz
For more on the FIFA U-20 World Cup visit FIFA.com

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