Victory against Klinsmann’s conqueror
Three penalties and a trophy for Asian Cup hosts Qatar
February 10, 2024, 7:09 p.m
Host Qatar can successfully defend its title at the Asian Cup. The Emirates team won the final against outsiders Jordan 3-1 (1-0) and triumphed at the continental championship like four years ago. A few extraordinary things are inevitable.
With three penalties to defend their title: hosts Qatar have once again been crowned Asian champions thanks to penalty hero Akram Afif. Spanish coach Tintin Marquez’s team defeated outsiders Jordan 3-1 (1-0) in a strange and entertaining final and became the fifth team to successfully defend their title at the Asian Cup.
Qatar’s goal in the final in front of 80,000 spectators at the Lusail Stadium, where Argentina had become world champions with Lionel Messi 419 days earlier, was scored by Afif (22./73./90.+5) after foul penalties, all from the spot. Tournament surprise Jordan, who had eliminated South Korea under national coach Jürgen Klinsmann in the semi-finals, kept up the fight, but were only allowed to dream of a great triumph for a short time thanks to Yazan Al-Naimat’s equalizer (67th).
Chinese referee only needs VAR once
In a fast-paced and very intense duel, Qatar initially had more of the game. After Qatar’s star Afif was knocked off his feet by Abdallah Nasib in the penalty area, the fouled man stepped up himself – and converted down the left.
However, Jordan didn’t give up and got into the game better as the game went on. Al-Naimat’s equalizer into the left corner was not undeserved, but it was also a wake-up call for Qatar. The defending champions now became more active again and were promptly rewarded – the Chinese referee Ning Ma rightly pointed to the spot again and Afif scored again. In injury time – this time after studying the video images – the scene repeated itself.
The second title is a great satisfaction for Qatar: the Arab country was eliminated in the preliminary round of the home World Cup with no chance. Jordan had already caused a sensation by reaching the final; the kingdom has never made it to a World Cup; its greatest successes so far have been its quarter-final appearances at the Asian Cup in 2004 and 2011.