Qatar Defeats Jordan 3-1in the Asian Cup final

Qatar secured a 3-1 victory over Jordan in the Asian Cup final held at Lusail Stadium, with Akram Afif delivering a remarkable hat-trick of penalties. T

his win marked Qatar’s consecutive Asian Cup triumph, making them the fifth team in history to achieve back-to-back titles after their 2019 success.

The first half saw Afif converting a penalty after being brought down by Abdallah Nasib in the box, showcasing a stellar performance.

Yazan Al-Naimat later equalized for Jordan in the second half with a well-executed goal, countering Afif’s earlier penalty.

Despite Jordan’s resilience, Afif clinched two more goals from the penalty spot in the closing moments of the match, bringing his tournament goal tally to eight.

The video assistant referee played a crucial role in confirming these decisions.

Jordan had aspirations of claiming their first-ever Asian Cup title, having surprised everyone with a 2-0 victory over South Korea in the semi-finals.

However, Qatar’s prowess proved insurmountable.

Qatar’s initial spot-kick was awarded when Afif was fouled by Abdallah Nasib in the box after receiving a precise pass from Lucas Mendes.

Afif’s clinical finish into the bottom corner reflected his outstanding first-half performance. Despite Jordan’s improved showing in the second half, Al-Naimat’s goal and Qatar’s lead were short-lived.

In an unexpected turn, Afif secured his second penalty against the flow of play after Ismaeel Mohammad was fouled by Mahmoud Al-Mardi.

The drama continued when, despite 13 minutes of additional time signaled by the fourth official, the video assistant referee granted Qatar their third penalty.

Afif was brought down by goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila after successfully navigating Jordan’s offside trap.

Afif’s composed execution of the third penalty sparked jubilation among the majority of fans at Lusail Stadium.

With this victory, Qatar etched their name in history as the first team since Japan in 2004 to defend their Asian Cup crown, capping off an extraordinary tournament.