Qatar's forward #19 Almoez Ali shoots to score a goal past Lebanon's goalkeeper #21 Mostafa Matar, which was later disallowed, during the AFC Qatar 2023 Asian Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Lebanon at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, north of Doha on January 12, 2024. (Credit: AFP)
LUSAIL, Qatar, Jan 12 - Asian Cup hosts Qatar kicked off their title defense with a 3-0 win over Lebanon in the tournament opener on Friday with a brace from their prized playmaker Akram Afif and a goal from Almoez Ali.
Following a glitzy opening ceremony with Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also in attendance at the Lusail Stadium, Afif put on a show of his own to kickstart their campaign with three valuable points in the bag.
"Akram was named the most valuable player of the match, he's a very high-quality player and he deserves that," Qatar coach Marquez Lopez told reporters.
One of Asia's best
"We conceded the first goal at the worst time... we played a big team with experience and they punished all our mistakes," Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic said.
"Akram Afif is one of the best players in Asia, he can even play in Europe. He's a leader of this team and with his quality he decided the game tonight."
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Lusail, Qatar; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
Following a glitzy opening ceremony with Qatar's ruler Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani also in attendance at the Lusail Stadium, Afif put on a show of his own to kickstart their campaign with three valuable points in the bag.
"Akram was named the most valuable player of the match, he's a very high-quality player and he deserves that," Qatar coach Marquez Lopez told reporters.
One of Asia's best"We conceded the first goal at the worst time... we played a big team with experience and they punished all our mistakes," Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic said.
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