Doha: Qatar got off to a great start in the Asian Cup with a head-to-head victory as champions in front of more than 82,000 spectators at the Lusail Stadium. They beat Lebanon 3-0 in the opening match of Group ‘A’.
Akram Afif with two goals and goals scored by Al Muez Ali in the 56th minute helped Qatar win. They played composedly and alertly for 80 minutes, but were lucky to pull through in the final 20 minutes, including injury time. Goalkeeper Mishal Barshim’s vigilance when the midfield lost balls and defensive errors helped the opposition’s goals go astray.
Meanwhile, India will play their first match in Doha on Saturday. India’s rivals are Australia, who are ranked 25th in the FIFA rankings. The Indian camp is nervous about getting ahead of the tournament favorites Aussies in the very first match. And the backlash that the key players in the middle of the team are suffering from injuries. Even then, it is the fans who fill the gallery with hope.
2024-01-13 02:16:59
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