QATAR CHAMPIONS
Akam Afif scores hat-tick as Al Annabi defeat Jordan to retain title
Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties as Qatar won their second consecutive AFC Asian Cup title after defeating Jordan 3-1 in the Qatar 2023 final at a packed Lusail Stadium on Saturday.
Though Yazan Al Naimat’s equaliser gave first time finalists Jordan a flicker of hope, Afif’s coolness and Qatar’s overall superiority saw them defending the title they won in emphatic fashion in 2019 comfortably.
Afif’s hat-trick, the first of the tournament, took his tally to eight as he won the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Yili Top Scorer Award.
Ahead of the kick-off, Iraq legend and former captain Younis Mahmoud unveiled the AFC Asian Cup trophy in front of a capacity crowd at the Lusail Stadium, warming the fans up nicely for the final.
Qatar settled the faster with Afif almost catching Jordan napping in the fifth minute when he waltzed through the defence but goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila was quick off his line to thwart the danger.
Afif had another crack at goal two minutes later when Lucas Mendes did well on the right flank before sending his cross into the six-yard-box but the Al Sadd forward fired a low drive straight into the arms of Abulaila.
Qatar continued to pressure the Jordanian defence with Hasan Al Hydos threading a delightful through ball to Almoez
Though Yazan Al Naimat’s equaliser gave first time finalists Jordan a flicker of hope, Afif’s coolness and Qatar’s overall superiority saw them defending the title they won in emphatic fashion in 2019 comfortably
Ali, who was stopped in his tracks by an alert Mahmoud Al Mardi. Limited to just counterattacks, Jordan’s Nizar Al Rashdan whipped a long ball for Ali Olwan, with the forward setting up Yazan Al Naimat, who forced goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham to parry his powerful drive from above the box.
Jordan struggled to match Qatar’s intensity and paid the price in the 22nd minute following Abdallah Nasib’s clumsy challenge on Afif, who coolly slotted home the ensuing penalty to take his tournament tally to six which also confirmed him as the top scorer.
Jordan, having had to play second fiddle for the majority of the half, could have equalised just before the break but Mousa Tamari saw his effort from inside the box blocked by Mohammed Waad, with the Montpellier forward then failing to find the target from close range, sending Olwan’s cross over the bar.