AFC Asian Cup
We kick off our review of 2024 with a look back at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, by far the most successful edition ever, with Qatar emerging champions for the second successive edition and Jordan making the final for the first time in history.
Group Stage
The cast of 24 teams included seven former champions while Indonesia, Malaysia and Hong Kong, China were making a return after long absences. Tajikistan, meanwhile, made their Finals debut.
Qatar kicked off their title defence in emphatic fashion as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Lebanon in the tournament's opening match.
Marquez Lopez's side didn't let up in their remaining games, defeating Tajikistan and China PR by 1-0 score lines to complete the group stage with a perfect record for the second successive edition of the continental showpiece.
There was joy for debutants Tajikistan as they joined Qatar in the Round of 16 with an exciting 2-1 win over Lebanon on Matchday Three.
The Central Asian side had begun their campaign with a hard-fought 0-0 draw with China PR before narrowly losing to Qatar but were at their best to edge Lebanon to finish second in Group A.
#AsianCup2023 | Group B : Australia 2 - 0 India
Australia took a firm grip on Group B from Matchday One, with the 2015 champions defeating India 2-0.
Graham Arnold's side then confirmed their Round of 16 spot with a match to spare after a 1-0 win over Syria with the Socceroos playing to a 1-1 draw with Uzbekistan in their final group tie.
Uzbekistan finished second on five points after an opening day goalless draw with Syria was followed by an emphatic 3-0 win over India. The draw with Australia on Matchday Three confirmed their sixth consecutive appearance in the knockout stage.
Syria, meanwhile, created history by advancing as one of the four best third-placed teams, their 1-0 win over India and draw with Uzbekistan taking them through to the knockout stage for the first time in seven attempts.
#AsianCup2023 | Group C : Islamic Republic Of Iran 2 - 1 United Arab Emirates
Islamic Republic of Iran were the standout team in Group C, with the three-time champions finishing top with a perfect record.
They started their campaign with a 4-1 victory over Palestine and confirmed their Round of 16 spot with a 1-0 defeat of Hong Kong, China on Matchday Two. They concluded their group stage campaign with a 2-1 win over United Arab Emirates.
The United Arab Emirates advanced as the Group C runners-up, having defeated Hong Kong, China 3-1 in their opening clash and playing to a goalless draw with Palestine.
Palestine, meanwhile, shrugged off their opening day defeat to Iran by holding the United Arab Emirates 1-1 before going on to create history by defeating Hong Kong, China 3-0.
It was not only the West Asian side's first ever victory at the AFC Asian Cup™ but also confirmed a historic place in the knockout stage, having failed to advance in their previous two participations.
#AsianCup2023 | Group D : Iraq 2 - 1 Japan
Iraq were the outstanding team in Group D, finishing top with three wins - including a victory against four-time champions Japan.
Iraq, the 2007 AFC Asian Cup winners, started with a 3-1 defeat of Indonesia but even better was to follow from the West Asian side as they shocked Japan 2-1 on Matchday Two.
The win confirmed their Round of 16 spot but Iraq showed tremendous resilience to end their group campaign with a perfect record as they came from behind to defeat Vietnam 3-2 on Matchday Three.
Japan's loss to Iraq did not prove costly as the East Asian side, having beaten Vietnam 4-2 on Matchday One, defeated Indonesia 3-1 in their final match to advance as the runners-up.
There was joy for Indonesia - appearing in the continental showpiece for the first time since 2007 - as their 1-0 win over regional rivals Vietnam on Matchday Two ultimately proved enough to earn them a place in the knockout stage for the first time in history.
Bahrain emerged as the Group E winners but only after a thrilling contest which could have seen any one of three teams finishing top at the end of Matchday Three.
#AsianCup2023 | Group E : Bahrain 1 - 0 Malaysia
Two-time champions Korea Republic started as the favourites and they kicked off their campaign in style - defeating Bahrain 3-1.
That, however, was followed by a last-gasp 2-2 draw with Jordan, with the East Asian side salvaging a point following an own goal by Yazan Al Arab in added time.
Their Matchday Three tie against Malaysia was equally exciting, with Jurgen Klinsmann's side coming from behind to lead 3-2 only to have to settle for a 3-3 draw after conceding in the 15th minute of added time.
#AsianCup2023 | Group E : Korea Republic 3 - 3 Malaysia
Bahrain, meanwhile, rebounded from their opening day defeat against Korea Republic to beat Malaysia 1-0, with the winner coming in second half injury time.
Bahrain then edged Jordan 1-0 on Matchday Three, which meant finishing as the Group E winners on six points, one ahead of Korea Republic.
Jordan, who had defeated Malaysia 4-0 before their 2-2 draw with Korea Republic, finished third but advanced to the knockout stage as one of the four best third-placed teams.
#AsianCup2023 | Group F : Saudi Arabia 2 - 1 Oman
Saudi Arabia took charge of Group F from the first kick of the ball, with the three-time champions opening their campaign with an exciting 2-1 win over Oman.
A 2-0 victory over Kyrgyz Republic on Matchday Two meant confirming their Round of 16 spot with a game to spare, with the relaxed West Asian side playing to a goalless draw with Thailand in their final tie to confirm top spot.
Thailand advanced as the runners-up, having defeated Kyrgyz Republic 2-0 in their opening match before playing to goalless draws with Oman and Saudi Arabia.
Round of 16
#AsianCup2023 | Round of 16 : Tajikistan 1 (5) - (3) 1 United Arab Emirates
The standout tie was debutants Tajikistan defeating the UAE 5-3 on penalties after the match ended 1-1, with goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov the hero after judging correctly to deny Caio Canedo’s attempt when the shootout was tied at 1-1.
Australia ended Indonesia's run with a 4-0 win while Jordan showed resilience to come from behind to defeat 10-man Iraq 3-2.
#AsianCup2023 | Round of 16 : Qatar 2 - 1 Palestine
Qatar were made to work hard by Palestine for their 2-1 win while Uzbekistan overcame a fightback from Thailand to also win with a similar score line.
Saudi Arabia's hopes of a fourth title were ended by a 4-2 defeat penalty shootout defeat against Korea Republic, with the match having ended 1-1, with goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo the hero after saving attempts from Sami Al Naji and Abdulrahman Ghareeb in the third and fourth rounds of the spot-kicks.
#AsianCup2023 | Round of 16 : Saudi Arabia 1 (2) - (4) 1 Korea Republic
Japan stayed on track for a record-extending fifth title with a 3-1 defeat of Bahrain while Islamic Republic of Iran needed penalties to see off the challenge of Syria, winning 5-3 following a 1-1 draw.
Quarter-finals
Iran against Japan was the pick of the quarter-final ties, with the teams having won seven AFC Asian Cup titles between them.
The East Asian side looked to be well on their way to the semi-finals after Hidemasa Morita put them ahead in the 28th minute.
#AsianCup2023 | Quarter-final : Islamic Republic Of Iran 2 - 1 Japan
Iran, however, were determined to make up for their loss to the Japanese in the semi-finals of the 2019 edition with Mohammad Mohebi drawing them level in the 54th minute.
The comeback was completed deep into added time after Ko Itakura brought Hussein Kanaani down inside the box with Alireza Jahanbakhsh emphatically sending his spot-kick into the top corner to take his team into the semi-finals.
#AsianCup2023 | Quarter-final : Tajikistan 0 - 1 Jordan
There was heartbreak for Tajikistan as their dream run came to an end against Jordan, with the unfortunate Vahdat Hanonov's own goal midway through the second half settling the tie.
Son Heung-min settled the tie between Korea Republic and Australia, winning an injury time penalty and scoring a stunning extra-time free-kick to earn his nation a 2-1 come-from-behind victory.
#AsianCup2023 | Quarter-final : Australia 1 - 2 Korea Republic
The Tottenham Hotspur forward hauled the Taegeuk Warriors back into the game after Craig Goodwin had given the Australians a 42nd minute lead with a close-range volley.
Qatar also had to show resilience against Uzbekistan, with the defending champions advancing to the semi-finals after a 3-2 penalty shootout win against Uzbekistan.
#AsianCup2023 | Quarter-final : Qatar 1 (3) - (2) 1 Uzbekistan
With the match having ended 1-1, goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham rose to the occasion, saving spot-kicks from Rustamjon Ashurmatov, Zafarmurod Abdirakhmatov and Jaloliddin Masharipov.
Semi-finals
Both semi-final ties were stunning affairs as Jordan stunned Korea Republic 2-0 while Qatar edged Iran 3-2 after they had exchanged leads.
Jordan, appearing in the semi-finals for the first time, showed no sign of being overawed by the occasion as they took the game to two-time champions Korea Republic.
The East Asian side struggled to cope with Jordan's pace and determination and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring in the 53rd minute when Mousa Al Tamari pounced on a poor back pass from Jung Seung-hyun to send a well-timed pass to Yazan Al Naimat, who lobbed the ball over the advancing Jo Hyeon-woo for the opening goal.
#AsianCup2023 | Semi-final : Jordan 2 - 0 Korea Republic
Jordan's place in the final was sealed in the 66th minute when Al Tamari brilliantly cut inside from just above the area before unleashing a low drive into the net.
The Iran-Qatar tie was a thriller with the defending champions suffering a fourth-minute setback as Sardar Azmoun capitalised on their inability to deal with a throw-in to hook an acrobatic effort past a stranded goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham.
Qatar, however, did not trail for long, drawing level 13 minutes later with Akram Afif’s cutback setting up Jassem Gaber for a shot that took a deflection off Saeid Ezatohali, looped over Iran custodian Alireza Beiranvand and settled in the back of the net.
#AsianCup2023 | Semi-final : Islamic Republic Of Iran 2 - 3 Qatar
With Afif dictating terms, Qatar took charge and went ahead in the 43rd minute, the Al Sadd striker netting his fifth goal of the tournament with a scorching effort.
Iran, however, refused to give up and drew level six minutes into the second half with Alireza Jahanbakhsh calmly slotting home from the penalty spot after a VAR review determined Ahmed Fathy had handled Saeid Ezatohali’s shot.
Both sides then increased their efforts to find the winning goal, with Almoez Ali, the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019™ Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer, capitalising on a poor clearance by Iran to slot home the winner for Qatar.
Final
The mercurial Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties as Qatar lifted the coveted trophy for the second successive edition with a 3-1 win over a Jordan side who had won many hearts with their battling performances.
Though Naimat’s equaliser gave first time finalists Jordan a flicker of hope, Afif’s coolness and Qatar’s overall superiority took them over the finishing line comfortably.
Afif’s hat-trick, the first in an AFC Asian Cup final, took his tally to eight as he was named the Most Valuable Player and won the Top Scorer Award while teammate Meshaal Barsham took the Best Goalkeeper honour.
#AsianCup2023 | Final : Jordan 1 - 3 Qatar
With the majority of the 86,492 fans in the Lusail Stadium urging them on, Qatar were quick to settle with Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila having to rush off his line to deny Afif in the fifth minute.
Afif had another crack at goal two minutes later when Lucas Mendes sent a cross into the six-yard-box but the Al Sadd forward fired his low drive straight into the arms of Abulaila.
Qatar continued to pressure the Jordanian defence with Hasan Al Haydos threading a delightful through ball to Almoez Ali, who was stopped in his tracks by an alert Mahmoud Al Mardi.
Limited to just counter-attacks, Jordan’s Nizar Al Rashdan whipped a long ball for Ali Olwan, with the forward setting up Yazan Al Naimat, who forced goalkeeper Barsham to parry his powerful drive from above the box.
#AsianCup2023 Qatar champions again!
Jordan struggled to match Qatar’s intensity and paid the price in the 22nd minute following Abdallah Nasib’s clumsy challenge on Afif, who coolly slotted home the ensuing penalty.
The goal forced Jordan into action and after coming close several times, they drew level in the 67th minute when an unmarked Al Naimat showed excellent ball control inside the six-yard-box before riffling his effort into the bottom corner.
Jordan, however, were on level terms for just six minutes as Afif restored Qatar's lead from the penalty spot after Mahmoud Al Mardi’s foul on Ismaeel Mohammad.
There was no respite for Jordan as they conceded their third penalty after goalkeeper Abulaila was judged to have brought down Afif after a VAR review, with the forward stepping up once more to convert from the spot in the fifth minute of added time and hand Qatar their second AFC Asian Cup title.
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