(1137) World Cup Playoffs Showdown- UAE, Oman & Qatar - Highlight Show AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26

The AFC Asian Qualifiers Road to 26 Playoffs saw six teams split into two groups of three with matches played in a single round-robin format. The top team in each group would qualify for the FIFA World Cup, while the second-place teams remained in the qualification race and would square off in a two-legged showdown for a chance to represent the AFC at the FIFA Playoff tournament and book their place at next summer's showpiece. Battling for a place on football's biggest stage in Group A were the reigning champions of Asia, Qatar, aiming to secure their second World Cup appearance after hosting the tournament three years ago. Joining them in Group A were the disciplined and always dangerous Oman, looking to qualify for the first time in their history in their 10th campaign. And the third and final competitor in Group A came in the form of the experienced and extremely ambitious United Arab Emirates, eyeing a long-awaited return to the World Cup stage since making their World Cup debut all the way back in 1990. With everything on the line and every encounter an almost must-win scenario, let's jump straight into all three mouth-watering fixtures, kicking things off in Group A with Oman versus Qatar at the Yassin Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Oman and Qatar go head-to-head in the Yassin Bin Hamad Stadium as the AFC Asian Qualifiers Rota26 Playoffs get underway in Group A. With just one automatic qualification spot available amongst the three teams, the two here today will be the UAE as well, making up the rest of Group A. It's almost a must-win situation for every team involved and definitely a must-not-lose situation for them, with the first opportunity of the game. 12th minute there, a long-range effort just off target. Oman coming back the other way, the 27th with a half-chance of their own. Al-Shaifli taking advantage of a bad pass at the back by Madibo. Giselle Mbosabi has three goals in his last four international appearances, unable to really test Mahmoud Abounada in goal. Then the best chance of the half for Oman. The 45th, Fawaz with the delivery into Al-Rawai. But Al-Rawai is unable to find the target, so goalless at the break between Oman and Qatar. Into the second half we go. Hamed Al-Mafif powers his way through the entire defence and then puts the effort wide. What an opportunity for the Qatar talisman. One touch of the ball takes three defenders out of the equation and can't slot it home. He has to just nip it inside the near post. It's really fast forward now, into the 51st minutes. Nilsson Jr., a wide position, cuts inside and Nilsson Jr. gets the shot off. Doesn't get any real pace or power behind it. It'll be a simple save in the end for Raheem Mbappene with the goal for Oman. 77th minute now. We kick for Qatar. With the delivery towards the back post. Pedro Miguel slips in round the back of the defence. Can't find the target with the header. Down into the ground, but why? There's another chance. Who's begging for the team in white? Plenty of possession. The near-cut chances few and far between at both ends. Al-Mafif's chance, probably the pick of the bunch, is Muntari. It's his luck being just come on from the bench. Acrobatic attempt, that's an off target. Two stoppage time now. Goal now will certainly be the winner as Qatar are the team pushing for it. Ball into Muntari on the spin. This fires. What an opportunity to clinch all three points right at the death there. In the end, both teams have to settle for a point and now have just one game left to try and get a win under their belt. Oman face the UAE on the 11th of October while Qatar will play them three days later on the 14th. The AFC Asian qualifiers road to 26 playoffs continue in Group A as the UAE take on Oman in the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. Oman drew 0-0 with Qatar on Wednesday, giving them hope of qualifying for the World Cup finals for the first time in their history. Chance here in the 12th minute, and they take the lead. Takes a wicked deflection of Kwame Cuadio. Could even go down as an own goal. Amjad Al-Harty with a vicious strike there. Not sure that was going to be on target. Might have even been across, but it won't matter. To Oman, they have a one-goal cushion. Last thing stand, four points on the board. Chance here to peg one back for the UAE. Nicolas Gimenez does really well to shift it onto his right, and just inches wide of the post. Oman with a one-goal lead at the break. Everything going to plan so far into the second half. The United Arab Emirates starting to find some rhythm here. 55th minute. Harib Abdullah with the long-range effort, pulling Ibrahim Al-Muhaimi in goal into action. Relatively simple save, but the bounce just before it came to him making it just that little bit more difficult. UAE keeping the pressure on in this second half as they continue to hunt for an equaliser. Quarter of an hour still to go. Ali Saleh with the delivery! And there is the equaliser. Marcus Moloney popping up and rising above everyone else inside the box to score his second international goal. Wonderful cross, and a bullet header. Levels things up here in Doha. Game on. Just a few minutes later, Oman being a little bit more quiet in this second half. Now with a chance to take the lead again. Omo Seyfried at the back post, picked out by Al-Ruhai. Khalid Aysa stands his ground, just about keeps it out. 82nd minute now. Oman wide awake again. Chance here from just inside the box, but Nasser Al-Ruhai slices the effort wide. Can't find the target. Action packed end to this game here, with everything on the line for both teams in this playoff game. 83rd minute now, and UAE snatch the lead. With a big dollop of good fortune as well. Kyle Lucas with what was certainly a cross. Mohamed Mouhani in goal, all completely off guard. 89th minute now. Probably the last chance here for Oman to try and salvage something. Khalid Aysa with the save. And a save that means the UAE take a massive step towards qualification, but must now battle it out with Qatar for top spot in three days time. A draw will get the job done for the UAE tonight, while only a win will see Qatar book their place at next summer's World Cup as both sides face off in Group A's decider at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha. Third minute of play and already our first chance of the game. Coming down the left, cuts it inside, danger not over as Khalid Aysa is called into action. Not a second time though on the follow-up from Ayoub Al-Aouid with Sultan Al-Brake with a shot on target. The great work from Hafez on the wing. Qatar in front of a home crowd, setting the tone early. The action at the other end didn't take too long to unfold either. 13th minute of play, Nicolas Gimenez with the long-range effort and Mahmoud Abnada able to just help it around the outside of the post. The UAE then in the driving seat again, just moments later, with an even better opportunity. Ali Saleh with a lovely delivery, Lucas Pimenta then with the header just wide. 31st minutes, action just keeps on coming in this, thoroughly entertaining. All or nothing game between Qatar and the UAE. Edmilson Jr. across into Mohamed Al-Manai but his header wide as well. Plenty of chances at both ends. Nil-Mil at the break into the second half. Dead ball situation here for Qatar. Abdel-Mafeef with the cross into the box and Boalem hook it. The captain, the veteran. His 119th international appearance and his 21st goal for his country could be one of the most important he has ever scored. The captain leading by example. Cut up, 1-0 up. And now as things stand, in top spot in Group A. 71st minutes nearly. A reply from Sultan Adil. Eric the substitute combining with his fellow second half substitute there. No rewards for UAE in the end. 74th minutes and Qatar show them how it's done for a second time. Again it's Abdel-Mafeef with the cross. Pedro Miguel, the only player to not give up on the ball. Heads it back across from an acute angle and just like that, cut up 2-0 up. But a man down in the 89th minute. Tarek Salman shown a straight red for a horrible challenge on Eric. 15 minutes of stoppage time. UAE, an extra man. Feeling there might be a way back into this. 98th minutes, ball into the box. Fabio Lima with the header down to Adil and he finds the bottom left corner. Well taken goal. But sadly, too little, too late as Qatar head to their second World Cup with a first place finish in Group A while yet another round of playoffs in November. A goalless draw between Oman and Qatar on the opening day of action meant both sides were left unsure of what the future held heading into their second and final game of the playoff group stage. Abdel-Mafeef's solo run and effort wide early into the second half was probably the best chance of the game but wasted opportunities at both ends of the pitch meant that there was still work to be done for both teams. Just three days later, it was time for the UAE to show their cards against Oman with the latter now needing a win to keep qualification hopes alive. Despite a strong start in the opening goal of the game just 12 minutes into proceedings the Asian champions managed to claw their way back late into the second period of play with a headed equalizer by Marcus Maloney in the 76th minute of play. They then have Lady Luck on their side not long later as Kyo Lucas' cross into the box sailed past everyone to find its home in the far corner of the net securing three massive points for the UAE and dashing Oman's hopes of automatic qualification. The final showdown saw Qatar and the UAE go toe-to-toe with the hosts in need of a win to qualify while a point would get the job done for the United Arab Emirates. After a tense but goalless first half the action came thick and fast at the start of the second with Qatar's captain Bulem Rohi leading by example and heading home to give his country the lead just minutes after the restart. But Lopetegui's side weren't finished there another dead ball situation and another headed goal this time from Pedro Miguel in the 74th minute sent the fans into a frenzy in Doha. Despite a late goal in injury time for the UAE through Sultan Adil the damage had already been done as Qatar secured a top spot finish and their ticket to next summer's World Cup. For just the second time in their history Qatar will be heading to football's greatest spectacle the FIFA World Cup. Thanks to Acromafife and company delivering the goods when it mattered most against the resilient UAE in Doha on the final day of action Bulem Lopetegui's side finished top of Group A undefeated and with a four-point total. The atmosphere inside the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium was electric from start to finish and what was at stake was there for all to see throughout the heated encounter. Nerves then transformed into joy and celebrations come the final whistle on a night that would go down in history for Qatar's players, staff and gentlemen fans. I cannot describe this feeling. It's unbelievable. We've been fighting for this opportunity for a long time and this generation to be honest they deserve and I got the chance in the last moment to be part of this group. I'm so happy, I'm so proud. It's always a pleasure and an honour to represent a Qatar national team so we are so happy and today Qatar is celebrating with everyone. Thank you so much. Despite their winning start to life in Group A the UAE sadly came up short in the big decider against host Qatar on the final match day. Defeat left them in second place with three points to their name but despite the disappointing result their journey doesn't end there. As runners-up they still have another chance to qualify and must now face Iraq in a two-legged playoff to keep their World Cup dreams alive. The winner then moves on to the FIFA Continental playoffs with a World Cup spot still up for grabs. So make sure you join us on the 13th and 18th of November for the next chapter of the AFC's Road to 26 story. We'll see you there.