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LUSAIL, Qatar: Asian Cup hosts Qatar kickstarted their title defence with a 3-0 win over Lebanon within the event opener on Friday with a brace from their prized playmaker Akram Afif and a aim from Almoez Ali.
Following a glitzy opening ceremony with Qatar’s ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani additionally in attendance on the Lusail Stadium, the 2 forwards stole the present to kick off the event with three factors within the bag for the hosts. Qatar scored early by means of the 2019 event’s prime scorer Ali and the gang went ballistic when he discovered the web, however the euphoria died down shortly when everybody noticed the linesman’s flag up for offside.
Qatar’s ahead #19 Almoez Ali celebrates after scoring his group’s second aim throughout the AFC Qatar 2023 Asian Cup Group A soccer match between Qatar and Lebanon on the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on January 12, 2024. (Picture by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
The hosts dominated the opening levels however Lebanon slowly discovered their footing, with veteran skipper Hassan Maatouk firing a warning shot straight at Qatar goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham. Afif was the busiest participant within the last third, staying two steps forward of the Lebanon defence by discovering house and creating loads of possibilities which have been wasted whereas the playmaker additionally noticed a header graze the crossbar on its means over.
However his persistence lastly paid off on the stroke of halftime when Ali trapped the ball contained in the field, noticed an unmarked Afif arrive and backed away for his 27-year-old strike associate to fireside house as the gang roared again into life. Ali scored 9 targets within the 2019 event and he picked up the place he left off when he doubled Qatar’s lead 11 minutes after the restart, heading house a pleasant cross from Mohammed Waad on the flank.
Qatar’s ahead #19 Almoez Ali reacts as he scores his group’s second aim throughout the AFC Qatar 2023 Asian Cup Group A soccer match between Qatar and Lebanon on the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on January 12, 2024. (Picture by HECTOR RETAMAL / AFP)
The aim put a spring in Qatar’s step they usually routinely reduce by means of Lebanon’s defence. In the meantime, their much less illustrious opponents struggled to persistently string collectively passes after they ventured into Qatar’s half. Afif sealed the victory in stoppage time when he pounced on a botched clearance and simply accelerated previous a tiring Lebanon defence earlier than making use of a peaceful end to make it 3-0. China play Tajikistan within the different Group A sport on Saturday. — Reuters
Soccer Soccer – AFC Asian Cup – Group A – Qatar v Lebanon – Lusail Stadium, Lusail, Qatar – January 12, 2024 Qatar’s Akram Afif scores their third aim REUTERS/Thaier Al-Sudani
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