Qatar celebrates a goal in a friendly against Northern Ireland. (Photo : Reuters)
Group C leaders Qatar (3-0-0, 9 points) and China PR (2-0-1, 7 points) will go head-to-head for the top spot in their brackets in an AFC 2018 World Cup qualifying match at the Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium in Doha on Thursday, October 8.
The Qataris are coming off a 3-2 escape against a hard-fighting Hong Kong XI at the Mong Kok Stadium last month as Kim Pan-Gon's boys would not easily fall down, as per China Daily Asia.
Karim Boudiaf, Abdelkarim Hassan, and Mohammed Musa boosted the Maroons to a 3-0 lead as each scored a goal at the 22nd, 62nd, and 84th-minute marks respectively.
Hong Kong was able to fight back with Bai He and Godfred Karikari finding the back of the net at the 87th and 89th minutes, but it was already too late for the hosts as time expired.
Meanwhile, China dismantled Maldives, 3-0, in their September 8 matchup at the Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium in Shenyang, via the Global Times.
Striker Yu Dabao scored a brace at the 8th and 57th while defender Zhang Linpeng added another one at the 66th to seal the blowout win for head coach Alain Perrin.
Team Dragon is expected to have a hard time against José Daniel Carreño's side as they seem unstoppable when playing at home.
The prediction is a close 2-1 win for Qatar.
Qatar starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Lecomte; Musa, Hassan, Kasola, Yasser; Assadalla, Khouki, Boudiaf, Abdullah; Haidos, Muntari
China starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Wang Dalei; Ren, Mei, Zhang Linpeng, Zou; Zheng Zhi, Wu, Zheng Long, Yu Hanchao; Yang, Yu Dabao
