ABU DHABI: Qatar has stunned four-time champions Japan 3-1 in the final of the AFC Asian Cup held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to lift its maiden title at the continental tournament on Friday.
Striker Almoez Ali opened the scoring for Qataris, with a spectacular overhead kick-his record ninth goal of the tournament.
Ali’s 12th-minute strike took him past Ali Daei’s 1996 tally, and combined with a 27th-minute strike from Abdulaziz Hatem and a late Akram Afif penalty, helped the Qataris make an emphatic statement ahead of their hosting of the 2022 World Cup. – Agencies
