Qatar forward Akram Afif (left) in action against Colombia during their FIFA U-20 World Cup Group C match at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand, yesterday. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed

By Our Correspondent/Hamilton, New Zealand

South American champions Colombia yesterday made the most of a goalkeeping gaffe to edge a feisty Qatar 1-0 in their opening Group C clash at the FIFA U-20 World Cup yesterday.
Colombian midfielder Joao Rodriguez scored for the South Americans in the 24th minute after goalkeeper Hassan Yousof allowed the ball to slip between his legs off a shot from close range.
Qatar, making a comeback to the FIFA U-20 World Cup after 20 years, otherwise impressed with their runs through inspirational captain Ahmad Moein, Austria-based striker Jassim al-Jalabi and influential forward Akram Afif who often ran Colombian defenders ragged with his sublime moves.
Coached by Felix Sanchez, Qatar defenders kept fearful Deportivo striker Santos Borre in check for most part of second half in which neither teams could score a goal despite a series of attacks against each other.
After yesterday’s win, Colombia have maintained their unbeaten streak against an Asian side in U-20 games. They now have seven wins and two draws in nine meetings against an AFC team.
Yesterday’s high-octane game was a first between the two sides as a huge crowd - braving cold conditions - enjoyed the Group C spectacle at Waikato Stadium.
“It was a tough match against a good side. We played well but luck deserted us. We could have easily got a draw,” Sanchez said. “It was a high quality game,” the Spaniard added.
Colombia coach Carlos Alberto Restrepo said: “It was an equal game. We weren’t that attacking upfront. We have to get better.”
He added: “We have to improve every aspect of our game. We are doing it right but we have to get organised. We didn’t do well in the second half and this is not how we play.”
The Group C slugfest kicked off on a promising note as Qatar midfielder Afif broke free in the first minute but the 18-year-old lost the ball inside the Colombian box.
Just five minutes into the game, Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo was ordered off the pitch with a bleeding nose but the 18-year-old soon returned with cotton wool stuffed up his nostrils.
In the 10th minute, match hero Rodriguez curled in a well-taken free-kick from the left flank but Qatar defender Abdou Serigne jumped high to head the ball away.
Qatar - playing in white jerseys and shorts - won their first corner in the 14th minute but Colombian defence remained intact to rebuff the challenge.
Four minutes later, Colombia missed their first serious attempt at goal when Italy-based midfielder Alexis Zapata lost his footing close to the Qatar goal-mouth.
A few minutes later, Qatar captain Moein picked up a yellow card for a reckless infringement that eventually resulted in the only goal of the match.
After collecting a loose ball, striker Borre picked out a charging Rodriguez near the Qatar box.
Without any hesitation, Rodriguez slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Yousof as Colombia opened the scoring in the 24th minute.
With Colombia enjoying ball-possession after the first goal, the boys in yellow and black wasted an easy opportunity to double the lead three minutes later.
Midfielder Steven Lucumi - in an attempt to go solo - missed the target with his long-range clip from the edge of the Qatar box.
A minute later, Qatar’s feisty defender Serigne picked up a yellow for bringing down midfielder Zapata.
Six minutes from the break, Yousof moved on from his earlier gaffe and blocked a close-range shot by Zapata in the 39th minute.
Two minutes later, he thwarted Rodriguez, who fired a missile just metres away from the Qatar goal-line.
In injury time, Yousof emerged as Qatar’s man of the moment when he blocked yet another Rodriguez attempt as Colombia mounted a series of attacks.
After a sluggish start to the second half, Qatar nearly pulled off an equaliser in the 52nd minute when tireless forward al-Jalabi missed the target from close range.
Midfielder Mohamed Jasim clipped a pass from the flank for al-Jalabi who misfired from close range as Qatar wasted their best chance to score early in the second half.
Five minutes later, Qatar midfielder Ahmed al-Sadi fired a bullet after a goalmouth melee but his ferocious shot from close range was blocked by Colombian goalkeeper Alvaro Montero.
“We are happy to have picked up three points,” Montero, who is without a club, said. “It is important to start an event such as this with a win,” he added.
After watching Afif slapped with a yellow card for bringing down Andres Tello, coach Sachez - sensing a change in momentum - immediately benched al-Jalabi and brought in Abdulsalam Abdullaah.
Qatar and Colombia continued to trade blows but both sides averted danger at the one-hour mark. Colombian backline blocked a threatening move by Afif whose shot was stopped by goalkeeper Montero in the 62nd minute.
A couple of minutes later, Serigne produced a sliding tackle on the edge of the box to stop a charging Juan Quintero. Moments later, Borre’s close ranger curler missed Qatar’s goalpost by a whisker.
In the 80th minute, al-Sadi, Qatar’s 19-year-old midfielder, connected with a left-footed flick but his shot narrowly missed the target.
A minute later Qatar substitute Sultan al-Kuwari hoodwinked his marker and quickly slipped one past goalkeeper Montero but his shot went agonizingly close to the Colombian goalpost.
After a few tense minutes, Colombia managed to withstand Qatar’s late attacks to pick up a much-needed win to open their account in Group C.
Qatar play Portugal on June 3 and then Senegal three days later. The West Asian champions will play all of their matches at Waikato Stadium.