DOHA: Qatar will look to bounce back from their opening defeat when they face Bahrain at Grand Hamad Stadium today in their second Group A match of the Gulf U-17 Football Championship.
The hosts are aiming to secure their first three points after suffering a 2-0 defeat to China in their opening fixture, leaving them under pressure to revive their hopes of progressing in the tournament.
Bahrain also enter the contest seeking their first victory after losing 2-1 to the United Arab Emirates in their opening match.
Qatar head coach Nicolas Arnaldo has focused on correcting the tactical shortcomings exposed against China, with particular emphasis on improving defensive organisation and sharpening the team’s attacking play.
The coaching staff have also worked on improving finishing and making better use of scoring opportunities as Qatar seek a stronger performance against their Gulf rivals.
In another Group A fixture, Oman will face China at Hamad bin Khalifa Stadium. Oman will be aiming for a positive start to their campaign, while China will look to build on their opening victory and strengthen their position at the top of the group standings.
The championship, hosted by Qatar until Nov. 4, features 10 teams divided into two groups of five, with 23 matches scheduled throughout the competition.
