Jordan v Qatar: Akram Afif's hat-trick of penalties fires hosts to Asian Cup glory

Akram Afif swept home a hat-trick of penalties, the tournament’s standout performer delivering on the grandest of stages, and Qatar were back-to-back Asian champions.

Hosts of the postponed 2023 tournament, the holders will keep the continent’s premier prize for another few years yet, Afif and Co seeing off a spirited Jordan 3-1 at a lively Lusail Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite the defeat, Jordan depart Doha with heads held high.

Never beyond the Asian Cup’s quarter-finals, they can look to foundations laid for future success.

But it was Qatar’s night at the same glittering venue that crowned Argentina as World Cup winners 14 months ago. Back then, the final also included three penalties before the game was decided in the shootout.

Unlike the global finals, this proved to be Qatar’s tournament on the pitch, too. Asian champions in the UAE five years ago, they are the continent’s top team once more, becoming the first to retain the trophy since Japan two decades ago. Only Japan, Saudi Arabia and Iran have won more.

Qatar’s successful defence was dependent on Afif, his influence carrying “Tintin” Marquez Lopez’s side through the campaign. Asian Player of the Year in 2019, Afif concluded the latest edition as its top scorer and Most Valuable Player, also. It was a decisive display this past month, all right.

It had to be on Saturday. Jordan, conquerors of South Korea earlier this week, were always going to be formidable opponents; their performances this past month have been built on grit but they are a significantly gifted team, also. Seeking to make yet more history, they coloured proceedings throughout.

And they more than played their part in a pulsating finale. After on-pitch singers led supporters in belting out