Qatar national football team players celebrate after beating Japan to lift the AFC Asian Cup 2019. Get highlights of the Japan vs Qatar final here.
Qatar national football team beat Japan 3-1 to win the AFC Asian Cup 2019 crown in Abu Dhabi on February 1. Ali Almoez, Abdel Hziz Hatim and Akram Afif (from a penalty) found the target for Qatar while Takumi Minamino scored for Japan. (Get highlights and analysis of the Japan vs Qatar AFC Asian Cup 2019 final below.)
Earlier, Qatar took full control of the final after Almoez scored his ninth goal of the tournament (establishing a new record), and Hatim nailed a scorcher to give them a 2-0 lead going into half time. Japan, who began the match by controlling possession, lost shape after the two goals and were looking out of sorts and out of ideas up front.
Simply on this game’s showing (because tournaments are won IN the final) Qatar deserve this. They have been strong at the back, and looked dangerous regularly on the counter.
Two supreme individual efforts sealed the game for them. Which one was better? Almoez’ was ingenuity in a situation of no return. Back to goal, nothing to do except that. And boy did he do it.
Hatim’s was the perfect blend of philistine sledgehammer and artistic placement.
Japan stormed back in the second half and had Qatar in all sorts of bother. They pulled one back, and then a refereeing error killed the fun of the game. Regardless, a great final.
12’ GOAL!!!!!! Out of nothing. Literally nothing. And it's the record breaker Ali Almoez. He took the ball with his back to goal inside the box, teed himself up and bicycle kicked it into the bottom corner. It went in off the post, but what a finish.
13’ As incredible as that goal was by Almoez, some blame must be put at the feet of Japan’s Shuichi Gonda. As well placed as that shot was, it was weak. Japan 0-1 Qatar
13’ Almost another. Again Almoez has sprung free and driven a shot, but Yoshida blocks it. Qatar have grown in confidence and are well and truly in it right now. This first goal puts Japan in all sorts of bother.
17’ How about that eligibility complaint then? Almoez has broken a 22 yer old record. Obviously he wasn’t intimidated. He didn’t even know what Ali Daei did in 1996. He wasn’t born you see.
24’ Akram Afif’s injury has caused a break in play. We are back on now. Japan look a bit shocked. The passes aren’t always sticking the threat of the counter is keeping them honest.
25’ Japan are pinging the ball along well, and keep pushing it around in the middle. Qatar’s watertight defence closes everything down. Eventually the Japanese run out of options and Qatar break. And. Repeat.
27’ Screamer!! Another. Screamer. What a goal. Abdulaziz Hatim has the ball at the top of the box, he collects on his right, turns to his left, and Yoshida gives him too much space to take the shot. That is unforgivable, but Hatim makes the most of it. He creams it into the far corner. Ooof. 2-0 Qatar. Take that. Xavi knows something no one else does obviously.
29’ It will take a monumental effort now from Japan to get this game going. They have been a bit lethargic and have been punished twice -- off Qatar’s two shots on target no less. They need a goal now, or this could get ugly. They have a freekick 30 yards out. Its central. Here’s a starter.
When you talk about the development of a national squad Qatar are somewhat of an example. Four years ago they lost all three group games at the Asian Cup. Half an hour into this final they’re two goals up and looking strong.
31’ Doan hits the wall.
32’ Japan go the aerial route, and Takumi gets into the box off a Osako knockdown. He is ushered off the ball very politely by Abdelkarim Hassen. No cigar.
Arjun Pandit is joining in the chatter. Says, “Qatar is finding too much space between the lines. Japan central midfield making too many errors.” Pretty spot on. Don’t think they’ve encountered this sort of combination of physicality, speed and organisation in this tournament so far.
33’ Every time Japan get the ball around the opposition box, they are closed down by a platoon of Qatari defenders. It is top notch team effort defending. No space. Not even to breathe, let alone pass the ball.
35’ What is going on!!! Qatar, again blast on the counter, just bypassing the Japan midfield. After some horrifying defending the ball finds its way to Hassan, who hits the post from an almost impossible angle.
40’ Corner to Japan. A goal now could give them some hope. Its their second of the game. Nothing of it though. Qatar clear.
41’ Japan are getting a bit impatient and desperate. They are shooting from strange angles and are harried and hurried in possession. Credit to Qatar, who are making all of this happen to them.
42’ Finally, a great bit of play from Japan. Takumi plays a brilliant pass into the box to Osako, but Khouki spots the danger. A corner ensues. Nothing from it.
44’ Qatar are defending deeper and deeper now, but Japan aren’t quite doing much in the final third yet. That pass aside, it's tough to remember anything of note they created this half.
Coach Felix Sanchez has been in Qatar since 2006, when he joined that country’s premier Aspire sports academy as a coach. Prior to that he spent, going by reports, 10 years as a youth coach at FC Barcelona. He is a key figure in Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup and was previously manager the under-23 side for four years. Clearly he knows the players pretty well.
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