AFC Asian Cup 2019 Final: Qatar 3-1 Japan: 3 takeaways

#2 Qatar scored two stunning goals in the first half

Qatar virtually killed the match in the first half itself with two stunning strikes. Almoez Ali scored with a brilliant overhead kick in the 12th minute after having received a pass from Akram Afif. This was Ali’s 9th goal of the tournament and 13th overall in 25 matches for Qatar. Afif made a lateral movement to break away from his markers and then played the crucial pass to Ali, who finished brilliantly.

Qatar scored again through Abdul Aziz Hatem in the 27th minute, as the midfielder received the ball just outside the penalty box, and beat the Japanese goalkeeper with a 25-yard scorcher. He had scored a similar goal in the quarter-final against South Korea, and has been one of the most impressive players of the tournament. Those two outstanding goals destroyed the morale of the Japanese in the first half itself, and paved the way for a resounding win for Qatar.

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Subhadeep, an adept tennis journalist at Sportskeeda, has been writing about the sport for seven years. He is known for his exclusive match reviews and opinion pieces, utilizing his MBA degree to tackle them effectively with his problem-solving abilities.

Subhadeep lives and breathes tennis. He watches matches regularly and engages in social media platforms to stay on top of the latest happenings. As a writer, he brings the fan's perspective to his pieces, ensuring his readers enjoy an exceptional experience every time.

Growing up, he idolized Boris Becker, but he now firmly believes Novak Djokovic stands alone as the 'Greatest of all Time', especially considering the 24-time Grand Slam champion's incredible stats. One thing that still puzzles Subhadeep, however, is how Becker's Wimbledon tally might have reached five if not for Pete Sampras.

Speaking of the All England Club, the British Major holds a special place in his heart as he admires its blend of tradition and grass-court excellence. When not working for Sportskeeda, Subhadeep delves into the other "love of his life": football, and enjoys contributing his insights to different websites dedicated to the sport.

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Edited by Aaditya Narayan