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Qatar qualifies as Hong Kong ends 52-year wait to progress

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Qatar qualifies as Hong Kong ends 52-year wait to progress

Hong Kong's Au Yeung Yiu Chung (left) celebrate one of his two goals with teammate Kwok Kin Pong against Bangladesh during their men's Group E pool match in the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou on Thursday. Hong Kong won 4-1. Yang Shizhong / China Daily

Its frustrating opening night behind it, Qatar is well and truly on its way to defending its Asian Games gold medal.

Qatar eased to a 2-0 defeat of Kuwait at Yingdong Stadium in Guangzhou on Thursday, claiming first place in Group D and a berth in the men's soccer knockout rounds. Kuwait still advanced in second place.

A 31st-minute strike from Abdulaziz Hatem and a free kick by Adil Ahmed in second-half stoppage time did the job for Qatar, which won its last two matches after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Singapore. It topped the group with seven points, one better than Kuwait.

India, meanwhile, salvaged its tournament with a 4-1 rout of Singapore, putting it in good position to claim one of the four knockout round places for the best third-place teams. Jewel Raja Shaikh, Balwant Singh, Khangebam Jibon Singh and Manish Mathani all struck for India, while the Young Lions could only muster a lone reply by Luo Zhenlun.

Singapore - which was without suspended left-back Shakir Hamzah and goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud - bowed out in last place, denting what had started as a promising tournament for Southeast Asian nations. Its draw with Qatar joined early victories for Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia, but only the Thais managed to follow that with another positive result.

Thailand salvaged some regional pride by finishing second in Group F, though it struggled to a 0-0 draw with the Maldives on Thursday. It outshot its opponent 19-2 but could not find a breakthrough. Oman won the group after seeing off Pakistan 2-0 through goals by Mohammed Al-Gheilani and Waleed Al-Saadi.

Vietnam takes on Group B leader Iran and Malaysia plays host nation China on Saturday, both needing at least a point to be sure of a place in the last 16.

Hong Kong, China, delighted the local fans at Huadu Stadium as it dominated Bangladesh in a 4-1 victory in Group E. Au Yeung Yiu Chung scored twice in the first 33 minutes, with Ju Ying Zhi and Chan Man Fai also finding the net for the victor.

Hong Kong coach Wai Ching Tsang was delighted to see his side progress.

"In 52 years, it's the first for us to get into the second round at the Asian Games. It shows our players can play better soccer," he told AFP reporter. "This is the message to people in Hong Kong and beyond. I'm very satisfied with today's result.

"We are confident and now we hope to advance into the semifinals and not just the quarterfinals."

Mohammed Hoque scored Bangladesh's only goal of the tournament as it finished in last place with no points and 10 goals conceded.

Hong Kong finished level on seven points with the United Arab Emirates, but the UAE claimed first place in the group with a superior goal difference after beating Uzbekistan 3-0. Theyab Al Musabi opened the scoring after 10 minutes and Ahmed Al Jenaiby striking either side of halftime.

Oman and Hong Kong are set to meet in the round of 16, as are the UAE and Kuwait. India is assured of advancing as no more than three third-place teams can surpass its record, while Uzbekistan needs Saturday's results to go its way in order to stay alive.