Qatar are the first team to be eliminated from the 2022 World Cup on home soil after just two games of their campaign.
The tournament hosts slipped to a second successive defeat in Group A on Friday, losing 3-1 to Senegal despite a spirited effort. That loss came after they were beaten by Ecuador 2-0 in their group opener on Sunday and leaves them with no chance of qualifying for the knockout phase after Ecuador and the Netherlands played out a 1-1 draw.
Qatar do still have one final game to come on Tuesday, though even if they managed to pull off a shock win over Netherlands, they can only finish on a total of three points, which is not enough to catch their group rivals. It is a disappointing end for Qatar, who hoped to galvanise the same spirit previous hosts have shown when holding the tournament.
But even some of their own supporters had seen enough at half-time during the clash with Senegal, as many opted not to return to their seats for the second period despite only being a goal down. Qatar had struggled to keep tabs on their opponents, with Senegal eventually getting their reward after 41 minutes when Boulaye Dia pounced on a loose ball in the box to score.
Senegal then doubled their advantage shortly after the break thanks to Famara Diedhiou's header from Ismail Jakobs' corner which looked to have put the game to bed. Despite the Senegalese drums driving their team on constantly throughout the match, Qatar did manage to mount a brief fightback.
In scant consolation to Qatar, Mohammed Muntari got his nation's first ever goal in a World Cup finals when he met Ismael Mohammad's cross to head past Senegal 'keeper Edouard Mendy. Those Qatar fans who had stayed on to cheer on their team celebrated jubilantly.
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Their optimism proved to be short-lived however, as Senegal took just six minutes to restore their two-goal cushion when Bamba Dieng finished to put the game beyond doubt. Dieng's goal was the cue for a number of other Qatar fans to make way towards the exit as they accepted their team's fate.
The result means Qatar are the quickest host nation to be eliminated from a home tournament. They needed Netherlands to lose to stand any chance of progressing to the last 16 but Louis van Gaal's side held up their end of the bargain.
Reaction from Qatar's fans will be of particular disappointment to the hosts, especially after Mohammad had called on their supporters ahead of the game to spur them on. "I think currently the squad needs the cheering more than ever before," he said on Thursday. "We want to perform and make everyone proud."
But the Al Thumama Stadium was awash with empty seats - not an uncommon sight at these finals. The official attendance at the match was eventually announced as 41,797, though by the final whistle many of those were already on their way home.
Speaking after the match, Qatar midfielder Assim Madibo insisted his side are looking forward to their final game of the group against the Netherlands despite their impending exit.
"You don't know what you’ll play a World Cup again, so it's a big game we are looking forward to it," he said.
“Frenkie de Jong is their best player, he’s a magician. It’s going to be tough, but we’ll play to win."
