Qatar win maiden continental title

Friday 01 February 2019, 13:35
Qatar win maiden continental title

Qatar beat four-time champions Japan 3-1 in final
Almoez Ali sets new single-tournament goals record (9)
They become the ninth different nation to win the Asian Cup
Qatar won their first-ever AFC Asian Cup title with a 3-1 victory over four-time champions Japan.
FIFA.com reviews the final of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019.
AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Final
01/31
Maya Yoshida of Japan looks dejected as he shakes hands with players of Qatar
02/31
Hiroki Sakai of Japan battles for possession with Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar
03/31
Former South Korean international Park Jisung presents the trophy 
04/31
Japanese fans cheer prior to kick-off
05/31
Head coach Hajime Moriyasu of Japan looks on
06/31
Ritsu Doan of Japn in action 
07/31
Almoez Ali of Qatar scores the opening goal 
08/31
Almoez Ali (2nd L) of Qatar celebrates scoring the opening goal with his team mates 
09/31
Almoez Ali of Qatar celebrates after scoring his team's first goal
10/31
Akram Hassan Afif of Qatar dribbles
11/31
Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar reacts
12/31
Abdelaziz Hatim of Qatar scores his team's second goal 
13/31
Abdelaziz Hatim (C) of Qatar scores his side's second goal past Shuichi Gonda of Japan 
14/31
Abdelaziz Hatim (C) of Qatar celebrates scoring his side's second goal with his teammates
15/31
Hasan Al Haydos (top) joins celebrations as Abdelaziz Hatim scores their second goal
16/31
Japanese players huddle prior to the second half 
17/31
Boualem Khoukhi of Qatar and Hiroki Sakai of Japan compete for the ball 
18/31
Takumi Minamino of Japan battles for possession with Salem Al Hajri of Qatar 
19/31
Takumi Minamino of Japan scores his team's first goal past Saad Al Sheeb of Qatar 
20/31
Takumi Minamino of Japan celebrates scoring his side's first goal 
21/31
Akram Hassan Afif of Qatar prepares for the penalty
22/31
Akram Hassan Afif of Qatar celebrates scoring their third goal from the penalty spot 
23/31
 Felix Sanchez, Manager of Qatar celebrates with his backroom staff and players of Qatar at the final whistle
24/31
Players of Qatar celebrate following their side's victory
25/31
FIFA President Gianni Infantino hands over the AFC Asian Cup trophy to Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar 
26/31
Players of Qatar celebrate with the AFC Asian Cup trophy 
27/31
Abdulkarim Al-Ali, Abdelaziz Hatim, Saad Al Sheeb, Hasan Al Haydos and Abdelkarim Hassan of Qatar celebrates with the AFC Asian Cup trophy
28/31
Khaled Mohammed, Abdelkarim Hassan and Hasan Al Haydos of Qatar celebrate with the AFC Asian trophy
29/31
Tameem Mohammed and Abdelkarim Hassan of Qatar celebrate
30/31
Tarek Salman, Tameem Mohammed and Abdelkarim Hassan of Qatar pose for a photo
31/31
Felix Sanchez, manager of Qatar celebrates with Abdelaziz Hatim, Hasan Al Haydos and Saad Al Sheeb of Qatar
Japan 1-3 Qatar
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi
The Qataris opened the scoring in spectacular fashion. The tournament’s leading assist-maker Akram Afif (ten assists) and goalscorer Almoez Ali (nine goals) fittingly combined in what ended with an audacious bicycle kick converted by the 22-year-old striker. Abdelaziz Hatim doubled Qatar’s lead with his second goal at UAE 2019, again assisted by Afif, about a quarter-of-an-hour later with a superb, driven shot outside the penalty area that found the top corner. Japan were rattled and Qatar nearly found a third before half-time, with only the woodwork denying captain Hasan Al Haydos.
Ten minutes after half-time, Afif found Hatim again with an incisive pass in the penalty area after a counter attack, but the midfielder failed to convert the chance and skied his effort well over the crossbar.
Takumi Minamino brought Japan back to within one goal with a chipped finish over Saad Al Sheeb following some neat and incisive passing from the Samurai Blue in Qatar’s penalty area.
Having put forth an incredible ten assists throughout UAE 2019, Afif then saved his first goal for the best possible moment as he converted from the penalty spot after Japan captain Maya Yoshida was adjudged to handle the ball in the area. The Samurai Blue ran out of time to get back into the game following a late miss from Yoshida and Qatar sealed a first-ever Asian Cup championship, winning in their inaugural appearance in the tournament decider.
Did you know?
Qatar are the ninth different nation to win the Asian Cup
Japan had won all four of their previous Asian Cup final appearances before losing to Qatar
Minamino's goal was the first conceded by Qatar at UAE 2019 - they had set a tournament record of recording six consecutive clean sheets at an Asian Cup
Qatar and Japan will both compete in this year's Copa America 2019 as invitees
What they said
"I have no words. We beat an outstanding, outstanding team. I think in the first half we played very well, in the second half we had to defend a lot because they obviously want to win the title as well. It was a very tough game. We suffered and we know how to suffer. I’m very happy for the players and all the people in Qatar who supported us from the beginning. Very well deserved, very happy, no words."
Qatar head coach Felix Sanchez