Qatar won the Asian Nations Cup at home on Saturday, beating Jordan (3-1), and retains its title in the competition.
After 2019, the men of Spaniard Tintin Marquez obtained their second coronation in the competition, which they owe to three penalties converted by Afif, who also finished as the tournament’s top scorer (eight goals).
Jordan’s epic, which reached the final of the Asian Cup for the first time in its history – its best result until now remained two quarter-finals in 2004 and 2011 – therefore did not end with a heroic title. Afif opened the scoring in the 20th minute, following a first penalty that he himself caused.
With a shot that narrowly escaped the Jordanian goalkeeper, Yazid Abu Layla, Afif put his team in front. A goal that he celebrated with a magic trick with a card taken out of his shin guard. However, the Jordanians, who created the feat in the semi-final by eliminating the favorite South Korea, managed to equalize in the 67th minute with a superb goal from Yazan Al Aimat. The Al-Ahli striker in Doha, Qatar, served perfectly by Ehsan Haddad, connected a beautiful control-shot which deceived Meshaal Barsham.
Only, a few minutes later, a foul in the Jordanian area again mobilized the referee and the VAR, which finally offered a second penalty to the Qataris. Without trembling, Akram Afif once again made the difference (2-1, 72nd). A performance that he repeated one last time in added time (90 5) to definitively offer the title to Qatar, and offer himself a hat-trick.
Here again, following a foul on the Al-Sadd player, the match referee called on VAR to make his decision. The remaining 10 long minutes of added time did not allow the Jordanians to enjoy one last thrill. Nicknamed the “Jordanian Messi”, Montpellier Mousa Al-Tamari was unable to weigh in. The “magician” of the day was on the Qatari side.