Qatar claim first Asian Cup with win over Japan

By Fatih Erel</p> <p>ISTANBUL (AA) – Qatar claimed their first Asian Cup on Friday with a 3-1 win over four-time champion Japan in the 2019 final.</p> <p>In the match at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, Qatar took the lead with Almoez Ali scoring in the 12th minute. Qatar made it 2-0 by Abdulazez Hatem scoring in the 27th minute.</p> <p>With nine goals in the tournament overall, Ali's goal on Friday made him the Asian Cup’s top scorer ever in its five-year history.</p> <p>Japan's Takumi Minamino scored in the 69th minute to make it 2-1, but in the 83rd minute Qatar scored the final goal with a penalty shot to end the game in victory. The match ended 3-1. </p> <p>After advancing to the 2019 Asian Cup final for the first time, Qatar was chasing yet another milestone achievement in the final.</p> <p>Qatar earlier made history as the first-ever team to give up no goals in the first six games of the Asia Cup, with a goal difference of 16-0. The final was their seventh game in the tournament which ended 3-1. </p> <p>Japan's top scorer Yuya Osako scored four goals in the 2019 Asian Cup. </p> <p>Qatar on Tuesday beat host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) 4-0 to make it to the final for the first time.</p> <p>The World Cup 2022 hosts had advanced to the semifinals for the first time by beating two-time champion South Korea.</p> <p>On Monday, four-time champion Japan defeated three-time champion Iran 3-0 to reach the final.</p> <p>Japan is the most successful team in the Asian Cup to date with four titles, followed by Iran and Saudi Arabia with three apiece.</p> <p>The 2019 AFC Asian Cup is the men's football championship of Asia organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).