Qatar Cruise Past Lebanon in AFC Asian Cup Opener

In the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup, defending champions Qatar marked a strong start by securing a 3-0 victory over Lebanon. Akram Afif's goal just before halftime, followed by Almoez Ali's goal after the break, and a late strike by Afif, sealed the win. Despite an initial crowd of over 80,000 at Lusail Stadium, some spectators left early, resulting in empty seats by the final whistle.

This victory was a positive beginning for Qatar, a team that clinched their first Asian Cup five years ago and recently underwent a coaching change, with Tintin Marquez taking over from Carlos Queiroz. Qatar had previously stunned Japan in the 2019 final, winning the tournament undefeated.

The match showcased Qatar's dominance, with Ali narrowly ruled offside in the early minutes and Afif hitting the crossbar with a header. Afif later found the net with a right-foot shot just before halftime, after Ali set him up in the box.

Qatar continued their momentum in the second half, with Ali heading home another goal in the 56th minute. The sizable crowd began to disperse after the second goal, missing Afif's skillful finish in the 96th minute.

This convincing win mirrored Qatar's victory over Lebanon in the 2019 Asian Cup opener. Their upcoming match in Group A is against Tajikistan on Wednesday, with China as the other team in the group.

The AFC Asian Cup action continues with Australia facing India, followed by China versus Tajikistan and Uzbekistan against Syria on Saturday.