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Ayeni Olusegun
Doha
The image of Boualem Khoukhi kissing the Qatari badge on his shirt is probably the most iconic image of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup for Al Annabi so far.
Despite a blatant disregard for sportsmanship by the host nation especially when the Qatari national anthem was being sung, Felix Sanchez and his players put on their best performance to claim a 4-0 victory against the UAE.
Goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hassan al Haydos and Ismaeel Hamadi secured Qatar’s first Asian Cup final berth.
Emirati fans booed Qatari players from all corners of the stadium, threw water bottles on the pitch and hurled shoes but Al Annabi maintained a cool head in hostile territory and Sanchez displayed that on the touchline. The players saw a calm coach and it showed in their performance for 90 minutes.
As Al Annabi celebrated victory and a record sixth clean sheet at a single Asian Cup, shoes were thrown at them and plastic bottles rained down from angry local fans — as they had for every Qatar goal. Young midfielder Salem al Hajri was hit on the head after the third goal.
Meanwhile, here in Qatar, fans thronged various venues to show their support. Everyone who calls Qatar home, locals and expatriates alike, sang, celebrated with chants of “We Love Qatar!” and the famous ‘Yalla Qatar!!!’ rang out from the Souq Waqif to Katara Cultural Village to Aspire Park, Hotel Park and the Pearl-Qatar.
However, for those close to the players like friends and family, the win over UAE is probably bigger than the trophy itself.
The cousin of midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem, Mohammed Abdalla who scored the winner against South Korea in the quarter-finals, was simply delighted. “This is the biggest football moment we have witnessed,” he exclaimed.
Hassan Alaen Alazead and Mohammed Abdalla, said, “We have won the ‘final’ and now everyone can be more proud to be a Qatari. This was more than the football as everyone knows, we beat Lebanon, Korea, Saudi Arabia – all power houses but the players have honoured us.”
Every Al Annabi attacking play brought different emotions from the crowd just as the Emiratis runs in Qatar’s defence sent anxious groans from fans with their eyes glued to the screen.
Qatar’s first shot at goal came from Salem al Hajris boots, a decent effort which was held by Khalid Essa in goal for the UAE but for the home fans, a different outcome would have been ecstasy.
The much awaited goal came from a swift counter attack. Qatar won possession back in their half and a quick pass found Khoukhi down the right. The Al Sadd man who has been instrumental for Al Annabi caught Essa napping as his shot drifted into the net, sending the home crowd across the nation into frenzy.
Qatar! Qatar!! Qatar!!! Screams erupted again as Almoez Ali equalled Iran’s Ali Daei’s 1996 Asian Cup record of 8 goals in a single tournament.
A ship can only sail as far as the captain directs and Haydos has been every bit a captain for Qatar. A man who bleeds the Maroon sealed the game with a befitting finish with one of the finest goals of the tournament. His finish caused euphoric scenes, probably a taste of more to come in 2022.
Hamadi’s late strike struck another blow to an already deflated UAE team but Qatar matches on with four-time winners Japan waiting in the final. The 2019 Asian Cup trophy however, may have found a new home at Al Bidda Tower.
Doha
The image of Boualem Khoukhi kissing the Qatari badge on his shirt is probably the most iconic image of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup for Al Annabi so far.
Despite a blatant disregard for sportsmanship by the host nation especially when the Qatari national anthem was being sung, Felix Sanchez and his players put on their best performance to claim a 4-0 victory against the UAE.
Goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hassan al Haydos and Ismaeel Hamadi secured Qatar’s first Asian Cup final berth.
Emirati fans booed Qatari players from all corners of the stadium, threw water bottles on the pitch and hurled shoes but Al Annabi maintained a cool head in hostile territory and Sanchez displayed that on the touchline. The players saw a calm coach and it showed in their performance for 90 minutes.
As Al Annabi celebrated victory and a record sixth clean sheet at a single Asian Cup, shoes were thrown at them and plastic bottles rained down from angry local fans — as they had for every Qatar goal. Young midfielder Salem al Hajri was hit on the head after the third goal.
Meanwhile, here in Qatar, fans thronged various venues to show their support. Everyone who calls Qatar home, locals and expatriates alike, sang, celebrated with chants of “We Love Qatar!” and the famous ‘Yalla Qatar!!!’ rang out from the Souq Waqif to Katara Cultural Village to Aspire Park, Hotel Park and the Pearl-Qatar.
However, for those close to the players like friends and family, the win over UAE is probably bigger than the trophy itself.
The cousin of midfielder Abdulaziz Hatem, Mohammed Abdalla who scored the winner against South Korea in the quarter-finals, was simply delighted. “This is the biggest football moment we have witnessed,” he exclaimed.
Hassan Alaen Alazead and Mohammed Abdalla, said, “We have won the ‘final’ and now everyone can be more proud to be a Qatari. This was more than the football as everyone knows, we beat Lebanon, Korea, Saudi Arabia – all power houses but the players have honoured us.”
Every Al Annabi attacking play brought different emotions from the crowd just as the Emiratis runs in Qatar’s defence sent anxious groans from fans with their eyes glued to the screen.
Qatar’s first shot at goal came from Salem al Hajris boots, a decent effort which was held by Khalid Essa in goal for the UAE but for the home fans, a different outcome would have been ecstasy.
The much awaited goal came from a swift counter attack. Qatar won possession back in their half and a quick pass found Khoukhi down the right. The Al Sadd man who has been instrumental for Al Annabi caught Essa napping as his shot drifted into the net, sending the home crowd across the nation into frenzy.
Qatar! Qatar!! Qatar!!! Screams erupted again as Almoez Ali equalled Iran’s Ali Daei’s 1996 Asian Cup record of 8 goals in a single tournament.
A ship can only sail as far as the captain directs and Haydos has been every bit a captain for Qatar. A man who bleeds the Maroon sealed the game with a befitting finish with one of the finest goals of the tournament. His finish caused euphoric scenes, probably a taste of more to come in 2022.
Hamadi’s late strike struck another blow to an already deflated UAE team but Qatar matches on with four-time winners Japan waiting in the final. The 2019 Asian Cup trophy however, may have found a new home at Al Bidda Tower.
