Hosts and defending champions Qatar are now in the finals of the Asian Cup, a football tournament that ends on February 10, 2024. Qatar entered the final by beating Iran in a thrilling encounter. The final tally was 3-2 in their favor. Jordan has already qualified for the last lap and is now waiting for their opponent to visit Lusail Stadium.
Al Thumama Stadium hosted the semis between Iran and Qatar. Iran, in the beginning, looked to tease Qatar with an early net that was scored in the 4th minute. Excitement did not precisely last for a long time, as Qatar made a quick recovery in the next 13 minutes. Jassem responded to Sardar for an equalizer. Next came Akram’s winning edge in the 43rd minute to make it the third goal in the first half.
However, that excitement did not last for a long time either. Iran picked up a chance they got in the 51st minute and bagged an addition to the board. It was through a penalty kick, but the side needed it to stay in the game.
The football game went on with a thrill for fans in the stadium. It was in the 82nd minute that a goal was scored. Almoez, accompanied by Hatem, found his way to beat Beiranvand and the defensive stretch of Iran. A formation of 4-2-3-1 could not turn up the heat, and that happened to be the decisive moment.
Marquez Lopez, the coach of Qatar, said that the game was complicated and the players did play well, adding that no efforts were spared.
For Iran, a turning point in the game was when Shojae Khalilzadeh received a red card. That happened in the ET over 90 minutes. A VAR review did come into the picture, but the original decision was overturned.
Qatar currently has two players on the list of top scorers: Akram Afif with five goals and Hassan Al-Haydos with three goals. Akram Afif also features on the list of top assists, with three assists to his name, the most by any player in the ongoing football tournament. Iran and Qatar had both ended up at the top of their respective tables with three wins each.
Another match that ended with a thrill was between South Korea and Jordan. The Korean side was poised to win the match. As a matter of fact, they were favorites, considering their rank was way better than Jordan’s, making them an attractive option for football betting enthusiasts. However, what followed was total chaos moving in the direction of Jordan, who surprisingly managed to get the most shots on target despite having the least possession. In a stunning upset, Jordan ended the game with a 2-0 victory, leaving many football bettors astonished by the unexpected turn of events.
Jordan and Qatar will now face each other in the finals of the Asian Cup of Football, ending the football tournament on February 10, 2024, in Lusail Stadium. Qatar are the favorites to lift the title. That would be ideal since their local fans will be right there to support them.
