AFC Asian Cup: Qatar retain trophy as Jordan pay penalty for indiscipline in lacklustre end to tournament
- Referee Ma Ning awards hosts hat-trick of spot kicks in disappointing end to enthralling month of football
- Akram Afif scores all his side’s goals in 3-1 win, and Qatar coach Marquez Lopez admits ‘football wasn’t as beautiful as we wished for’
Qatar retained their Asian Cup title at Lusail Stadium on Saturday, beating Jordan 3-1 in a game where Akram Afif scored a hat-trick from the penalty spot.
Chinese referee Ma Ning, who became the first official from the Mainland to take charge of the continental showpiece, awarded the penalties from which Afif scored in the 22nd, 73rd and 95th minutes
Afif finished on top of the scoring charts with eight goals and as the Asian Cup’s MVP. His side became the first team to successfully defend the title in 20 years.
“The referee made his decision with the VAR and the fans can see what happened,” Afif said. “I’m just a player and I play according to the referee’s decision. I just played my best to make my people proud and the win tonight was well deserved.”
The Qataris received the trophy from Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Thani in front of a crowd of 86,492 spectators who witnessed a lacklustre end to an enthralling month-long competition.
Qatar’s first penalty came when Al Sadd forward Afif was nudged over in the box by Jordanian right back Abdallah Nasib, and he calmly put the holders in front.
Sustained Jordanian pressure after the interval eventually paid off in the 67th minute, however, as Yazan Al Naimat showed balance and composure to pull down Ehsan Haddad’s cross with his left and then, in the next movement, smash his right-foot shot home.
But within seven minutes Qatar were back in front. Ma awarded the home side a second spot-kick after reviewing the pitch-side monitor following a collision between Ismaeel Mohammed and Mahmoud Al Mardi. Afif again coolly dispatched from 12 yards out.
Jordan were left to chase the game for the final 17 minutes and, in injury time, Afif beat the offside trap by the slimmest of margins to bear down on goal. This time he was fouled by goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila and, after another review, Ma awarded a third penalty for Afif to complete his hat-trick.
“We are so happy winning this game,” Marquez Lopez, the Qatar coach, said. “It was difficult. The tension was high. Maybe the football wasn’t as beautiful as we wished for, but everyone remembers the winner. We’re happy winning the trophy.”
Lhoussain Ammouta, who had taken the Jordanians to their first Asian Cup final, was left to regret his team’s missed opportunity.
“Unfortunately the game didn’t go in our favour but overall in the first half we weren’t focused, we weren’t comfortable,” the Moroccan said. “From the first moment we made mistakes. From the passes, the crosses, the chances we weren’t able to score.
“In the second half we were much better and we levelled the scores, but the timing of the penalties was crucial. The first, the second and the third.
“We tried hard to come back into the game but the penalties came at a time that didn’t allow us to come back. That’s what happens in football when mistakes are committed, especially in the defence.”
