Qatar won the Asian Cup for the second time in a row (French)
Qatar retained the Asian Football Cup title with a 3-1 victory over Jordan thanks to three kicks from Akram Afif, the tournament's top scorer, in the final match held at Lusail Stadium today, Saturday.
Qatar won the continental title for the second time in a row after winning the last edition in 2019, which was held in the Emirates, when it defeated Japan by the same score in the final match in Abu Dhabi.
Afif put his country in the lead in the 22nd minute from a penalty kick after falling inside the Jordanian penalty area after being obstructed by Abdullah Nassib, but Jordan showed a different face after the break, with Yazan Al-Naimat equalizing in the 67th minute with a wonderful goal from a powerful shot from inside the penalty area.
Akram Afif gives Qatar the lead from the penalty spot #AsiaCup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Jordan_Qatar | #Asian_Cup_Final#ASIANCUP2023 | #AsianCupFinal pic.twitter.com/teTKUno6Za
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 10, 2024
Yazan Al-Naimat ignites the Jordanian stands and scores the equalizer with great skill #Asian_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Jordan_Qatar | #Asian_Cup_Final#ASIANCUP2023 | #AsianCupFinal pic.twitter.com/bhdS6LcB8K
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 10, 2024
Just six minutes later, Afif put the Qatar national team, nicknamed “Al-Annabi,” back in front via another penalty kick after Jordanian defender Mahmoud Al-Mardi obstructed substitute Ismail Muhammad inside the area.
Akram Afif gives Qatar the lead again from the penalty spot #AsiaCup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Jordan_Qatar | #Asian_Cup_Final#ASIANCUP2023 | #AsianCupFinal pic.twitter.com/fgrACEMn4W
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 10, 2024
Afif fell inside the penalty area in stoppage time after being obstructed by goalkeeper Yazid Abu Laila, completing the hat-trick and scoring the third goal for himself and Qatar in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
He raised his score to 8 goals, making him the top scorer in the tournament, ahead of Iraqi Ayman Hussein (5 goals).
Akram Afif scores a hat-trick ⚽️⚽️⚽️#Asian_Cup | #AsiaCup2023 | #Jordan_Qatar | #Asian_Cup_Final#ASIANCUP2023 | #AsianCupFinal pic.twitter.com/XnDcQHjv2f
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) February 10, 2024
Source: Al Jazeera + Reuters