Afif hat trick secures Qatar back-to-back Asian Cup titles after 3-1 win in opposition to Jordan

Qatar’s Meshaal Barsham and Akram Afif have a good time after profitable greatest goalkeeper and greatest participant of the event
| Picture Credit score: Reuters

Akram Afif scored a hat trick of penalties to safe back-to-back Asian Cup titles for Qatar in a 3-1 win in opposition to Jordan on Saturday.

The ahead struck within the first half of the ultimate after which twice after the break at Lusail Stadium to complete because the event’s main scorer with eight objectives.

Yazan Al Naimat had leveled the sport within the second half, however Qatar was awarded two penalties on video overview and Afif confirmed no nerves to transform on each events.

Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe had lit up this spectacular stadium on the World Cup, and now it was Afif’s flip, together with his objectives in entrance of greater than 86,000 followers crowning his excellent event.

Qatar grew to become the primary back-to-back winner since Japan in 2000 and 2004. It’s the fifth nation to efficiently defend the title, although Iran gained it 3 times in a row from 1968 to 1976.

However regardless of being defending champion, this represented an sudden triumph for a nation that endured a depressing World Cup on dwelling soil in 2022 when exiting the event after three straight defeats within the group stage.

Spanish coach Márquez López had solely been employed in December and Qatar was overwhelmed 2-1 by Jordan in a pleasant in January.

Preparations have been hardly best, but it surely didn’t take lengthy for Qatar to indicate its credentials as potential champions once more after reeling off a 100% profitable report within the group phases, with standout performances from Afif.

Afif gained and transformed a penalty within the twenty second minute Saturday, however Jordan — taking part in in its first Asian Cup closing — was again on stage phrases when Al Naimat rifled dwelling from contained in the field within the 67th.

At that time, Jordan had been on high.

It was behind once more, nonetheless, when Ismaeel Mohammad was introduced down by Mahmoud Al Mardi.

It took a video overview earlier than referee Ma Ning pointed to the spot — however when he did, once more Afif delivered by firing into the left hand nook.

Within the fifth minute of stoppage time Afif accomplished his hat trick after he was fouled by Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.

Once more it took a video overview to award the spot kick. Once more Afif transformed.