Qatar’s Lopez hails ‘unique’ Afif after Palestine win

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Qatar’s Lopez hails ‘unique’ Afif after Palestine win

Al Khor: Akram Afif’s individual performance was the difference according to head coach Marquez Lopez as Qatar came from behind to defeat Palestine 2-1 in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 at Al Bayt Stadium on Monday.

After Palestine took the lead through Oday Dabbagh half an hour into the first half, it was Afif who set-up Hassan Al Haydos for the equaliser with a well-rehearsed move from a corner, before adding his fourth goal of the campaign from the penalty spot just after the restart to secure the win for the hosts.
 
Contributing to two goals on the night, Afif took his overall AFC Asian Cup goal contributions tally to 17, having assisted a record 10 goals and scored one in the UAE 2019 edition. He now sits second on the scoring chart for the ongoing tournament with four goals to his name in addition to two assists.

www.the-afc.com/en/national/afc_asian_cup/video/asiancup2023_|_round_of_16__qatar_2_-_1_palestine_1.html

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Ammouta: Perfect plan took Jordan past Iraq

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Ammouta: Perfect plan took Jordan past Iraq

Doha: Hussein Ammouta attributed a sound tactical plan for Jordan's exciting 3-2 win over Iraq in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 at the Khalifa International Stadium on Monday.

Iraq dominated from the start, limiting Jordan to counter-attacks but that didn’t stop Ammouta's side from taking the lead in the closing stages of the first half through Yazan Al Naimat.
 
Iraq came back fighting in the second half, scoring twice through Suad Natiq and Aymen Hussein, only to be left a man down following the latter’s dismissal with Jordan netting through Yazan Al Arab and Nizar Al Rashdan deep into added time to set up a quarter-final with Tajikistan on Friday. 

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ sets new all-time attendance record

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ sets new all-time attendance record

More fans have attended the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ than any other edition in the tournament’s 68-year history

Doha: The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ has set a new total attendance record of 1.06 million after 63,753 passionate fans packed the Al Bayt Stadium to witness defending champions Qatar emerge victorious over Palestine in the Round of 16 on Monday.

Preview - R16: Saudi Arabia v Korea Republic

Wed, 31 Jan, 2024

Preview - R16: Saudi Arabia v Korea Republic

Doha: Jurgen Klinsmann has told his Korea Republic players to be prepared to go all the way to a penalty shoot-out in their efforts to defeat Saudi Arabia ahead of their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ clash on Tuesday as both nations look to set-up a quarter-final meeting with Australia.

Klinsmann will be going head-to-head with Saudi Arabia head coach Roberto Mancini for the second time since September, when the nations met in a friendly match in England that the Koreans won 1-0 to give the German his first victory in charge of the Taeguk Warriors.
 
But Klinsmann admits the challenge facing his side at Education City Stadium will be very different compared to the narrow success achieved at Newcastle’s St James’s Park in only Mancini’s second game in charge of the three-time AFC Asian Cup winners.

Preview - R16: Uzbekistan v Thailand

Tue, 30 Jan, 2024

Preview - R16: Uzbekistan v Thailand

Al Wakrah: Srecko Katanec has played down Uzbekistan’s tag as favourites for their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™ Round of 16 match against Thailand at Al Janoub Stadium on Tuesday.

Seeking to take Uzbekistan to a fifth quarter-final appearance, Katanec is wary of the threat that Thailand pose despite 45 places separating them in the FIFA World Ranking.