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Defending champions and hosts Qatar acquired their Asian Cup marketing campaign off to a flying begin with a 3-0 win over Lebanon within the event’s opening sport on Friday. Akram Afif rifled in a shot on the stroke of half-time to place the 2022 World Cup hosts forward, earlier than Almoez Ali doubled their lead after the break and Afif bagged a late third. Over 80,000 followers initially packed into the Lusail Stadium, the place a Lionel Messi-inspired Argentina beat France on penalties within the World Cup remaining 13 months in the past.
Qatar’s win over Lebanon didn’t have the identical drama and a few spectators left as early as half-time, even with the house staff successful.
By the ultimate whistle there have been swathes of empty seats.
But it was a welcome begin for a staff that claimed their first Asian Cup 5 years in the past and solely modified their coach final month, with Tintin Marquez changing Carlos Queiroz.
Qatar shocked Japan within the 2019 remaining within the United Arab Emirates, lifting the trophy after successful each sport they performed on the event.
But they flopped on house soil on the World Cup, making a first-round exit after shedding all three video games.
Qatar had been way more assured towards a Lebanon facet taking part in in solely their third Asian Cup.
Ali, who scored an Asian Cup-record 9 objectives and was named participant of the event in 2019, had the ball within the internet as early because the sixth minute.
The striker latched onto a go and slipped the ball previous Lebanon goalkeeper Mostafa Matar, just for a VAR examine to rule him offside.
Afif, one other star of Qatar’s 2019 win, went shut when he hit the crossbar with a header on the half-hour mark.
But the ahead wouldn’t be denied as the sport crept nearer to half-time, slotting the ball house with a right-foot shot after Ali had laid it off to him within the field.
Qatar hit their stride after the break and had been rewarded with their second aim of the sport within the 56th minute.
A neat passing transfer noticed the ball labored out to Mohammed Waad on the left, and the defender picked out Ali to go previous Matar.
The enormous crowd started to filter out after Qatar’s second aim.
They missed a deft end from Afif for Qatar’s third aim within the 96th minute, placing the ultimate contact on a powerful particular person efficiency.
Qatar additionally beat Lebanon of their opening sport of the 2019 Asian Cup.
They will face Tajikistan of their subsequent sport on Wednesday, with China the opposite staff in Group A.
Saturday’s motion begins with Australia taking up India, earlier than China play Tajikistan and Uzbekistan face Syria.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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