DOHA: Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties to give Qatar a 3-1 win over Jordan and a second successive Asian Cup title on Saturday. The winger, and now tournament top scorer with eight in total, dragged the hosts over the line against a Jordan team who more than matched the winners.
The star of Qatar’s 2019 triumph struck once in the first half and twice in the second to ensure that Yazan Al-Naimat’s fine equalizer ultimately counted for nothing.
The early exchanges saw both teams probing and looking dangerous without really having a clear sight of goal. All the stars popped up to suggest it may be their time to shine, though well-timed blocks or badly-timed runs resulted in offside flags for the likes of Almoez Ali, Afif and Mousa Al-Taamari.
Al-Naimat is another who has had a fine tournament and had the first shot on target, though it was straight at Meeshal Barsham, who did not look too comfortable.
There was not much comfort in the Jordan defense when Afif started running at them, and when he was brought down by Abdallah Nasib in the area after cutting in from the left, referee Ma Ning quickly pointed to the spot. The winger stepped up to give the hosts the lead with his sixth goal of the tournament.
Lucas Mendes had supplied the pass for Afif’s run into the box and then got on the end of a corner from the winger after 33 minutes. Though his powerful header bounced down and then up towards the net, it was too central and was tipped over by Yazeed Abulaila.
Jordan were struggling to make anything happen. Finally a clear chance came in first half injury time. Mahmoud Al-Mardi pulled it back from the left byline for Al-Taamari’s first-time shot, from close range, which looked to be goalward bound to be blocked by Mohammed Waab. There was still time for Al-Taamari to have more space. He was found on the right side of the box but volleyed over. Still, it was a positive end to the first half for the Whites and the millions watching back in Amman and elsewhere.
Jordan continued to improve after the break as Qatar started to give the ball away. Just before the hour, Barsham got down well at his near post to tip a shot from Ehsan Haddad, overlapping on the right, that was destined to creep in away for a corner. From the resultant set piece, Yazan Al-Arab produced an overhead kick that drew another diving save from the man in yellow.
Barsham was back in action just moments later, saving a low shot from Taamari with his legs at the near post and then Ali Olwan flicked just wide. Al-Nashama were well on top.
A goal had been coming and it arrived midway through the second half. A looping cross from the right was controlled beautifully by Al-Naimat on the turn around the penalty spot, and one of the players of the tournament then buried his shot ferociously.
Almost immediately, Qatar, who had offered little in an attacking sense since the first half, had substitute Ismaeel Mohammed brought down in the area by Al-Mardi, though it took a while for VAR to make the decision for a penalty. Afif stepped up once more and made no mistake.
There was another penalty review in added time as Afif went down under a challenge from the goalkeeper. And, for the third time, Ma pointed to the spot and for the third time Afif scored to give Qatar a second championship. And while it was hard on a fantastic Jordan team, the celebrations in Doha had already started.
