Asian Cup 2023: Qatar returns to the final again

The Qatar national team succeeded in qualifying for the final match for the second time in a row, after achieving an exciting victory over Iran 3-2 on Wednesday at Al Thumama Stadium in Doha, in the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.

Jassim Jaber (17), Akram Afif (43) and Al-Moez Ali (82) scored Qatar’s goals, while Sardar Azmoun (4) and Ali Reza Jahanbakhsh (51 from a penalty kick) scored Iran’s goals.

The Iranian national team completed the match with ten players after defender Shoja Khalilzadeh was sent off in the third minute of stoppage time in the second half.

In the final match on Saturday at Lusail Stadium, the Qatari national team will meet the Jordanian national team, which defeated the Republic of Korea 2-0 on Tuesday at Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium.

In the first round, the Qatar national team topped the first Group standings with 9 full points from three matches, compared to 4 points for Tajikistan, 2 points for China, and a point for Lebanon.

The team began the competition by defeating Lebanon 3-0, then defeated Tajikistan 1-0, then defeated China 1-0, won in the round of 16 over Palestine 2-1, then won in the quarter-finals over Uzbekistan by 3-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

On the other hand, the Iranian team topped the third group standings with 9 full points from three matches, compared to 4 points each for the second UAE and third Palestine, while Hong Kong, China, ended its matches without points.

The team began the competition by winning over Palestine 4-1, then beat Hong Kong 1-0, and the UAE 2-1, and won in the round of 16 over Syria by a 5-3 penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw, and won in the quarter-finals over Japan 2-1.