By SCM Sports Writer in Qatar
DOHA, QATAR – The FIFA U-17 World Cup saw a shock venue steal the spotlight yesterday as Austria knocked out Tunisia with a 2-0 win, not in a grand, packed stadium, but on the turf of the Aspire Zone – Pitch 5, Khaled Ballan training complex.
In a match where the setting was as notable as the result, the Austrians secured their place in the next round thanks to a late brace from their starlet, Johannes Moser.
The atmosphere, more akin to a mid-week reserve fixture than a World Cup knockout clash, clearly didn’t phase the Young Eagles.
After a tight, goal-less affair for most of the match, it was Moser who finally broke the deadlock. His first came on 83 minutes, tucking away a penalty kick.
Then, just two minutes later, he was on hand to double the lead, ensuring Austria’s progression.
For Tunisia, who had fought hard throughout and enjoyed some decent spells, the defeat was a bitter pill.
Defender Ali Jaber’s late sending-off for a second bookable offence in added time capped a disappointing end to their campaign.
However, the real talking point wasn’t the football, but the baffling choice of venue.
While the World Cup is being hosted in Qatar, the sight of a last-32 match being played on a designated “Pitch 5” at a training centre—complete with the ‘Khaled Ballan’ name—will raise a few eyebrows among fans used to the spectacle of a major FIFA tournament.
It certainly makes a change from the glitz of the main arenas, providing a stark, if slightly surreal, backdrop to one of the biggest days in these young players’ careers. Austria won the match, but the humble training pitch might just have won the bizarre venue award for the tournament.
