By our man in Doha
DOHA, QATAR – Austria’s young stars punched their ticket to the next round of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup today, securing a gritty 1-0 victory over a resilient Japan side.
But the real talking point wasn’t just the tight scoreline; it was the intense action played out on the meticulously maintained turf of Aspire Zone – Pitch 3 in Doha.
In a tournament where the sheer number of matches has seen games spread across multiple venues, this particular pitch—named after Qatari football legend Badr Bilal—proved to be the stage for a tense Quarterfinal battle.
Both teams were determined not to let the unfamiliar, smaller-capacity surroundings of the Aspire Zone complex distract them from the prize.
Japan, fielding their usual technically gifted side, controlled long periods of possession, particularly in the second half, but found themselves repeatedly thwarted by a disciplined Austrian defence. The solitary goal came in the first half from a quick counter-attack, catching the Japanese defence flat-footed.
The goal, credited to forward J.Moser was enough to seal the in the 49 th minutes was enough to seal the deal. It sends the Austrians into the semi-finals, where they now await the winner of the Italy vs. Burkina Faso tie.
Despite the loss, the ‘Blue Samurai’ showed their class, pushing the Austrians right up until the final whistle, forcing several spectacular saves from the Austrian keeper in the closing minutes.
With the iconic Khalifa International Stadium reserved for the final, the Aspire Zone pitches have borne the bulk of the tournament’s load, offering superb, albeit less-publicised, facilities for the world’s best youth talent.
For Austria, the Aspire Zone’s Pitch 3 will forever be remembered as the patch of grass where their World Cup dream was kept alive.
