Doha, Qatar: Qatar advanced to the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 final after working hard to defeat Iran 3-2 in their semi-final yesterday.
Both teams produced their best in a spectacular showcase and the-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures from the pulsating match played at the Al Thumama Stadium.
Looking to stay perfect
Qatar, in qualifying for their second successive AFC Asian Cup final, will be bidding to become only the fifth team to win back-to-back titles after Korea Republic, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
In exalted company
The Maroons have become the third side after Australia (2011 & 2015) and Japan (2000 & 2004) to make consecutive appearances in the Finals of the competition in the 21st century.
Fast off the blocks
Sardar Azmoun’s fourth minute effort in yesterday’s match is the fastest goal ever conceded by Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup.
Potent Azmoun
Azmoun’s goal is the fastest in the knockout stages of the AFC Asian Cup by any Iran player and second fastest overall by any Team Melli player since the start of the 2007 edition of the competiton after Karim Ansarifard’s second minute goal in the group stage of the ongoing edition (vs Palestine on 14 January 2024).
Spot-kick kings
Iran scored three penalties in this edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the most a team has scored in a single edition of the competition (also Korea Republic in this edition and Japan in 2019) since 2007; in fact, Team Melli have now scored five such goals in competition since 2007 with Japan (eight) being only side to register more penalty goals in the AFC Asian Cup during the same period.
Super Afif
Having scored a goal and provided an assist, Qatar’s Akram Afif (8 – five goals & three assists) is the leading goal contributor of the ongoing edition of the AFC Asian Cup; in fact, only the Qatari duo of Afif himself (11 in 2019) and Almoez Ali (10 in 2019) have recorded more goal contributions in a single edition since 2007.
Record in sight
Following his match-winning goal in the 82nd minute against Iran, Qatar’s Almoez Ali (11 goals) has now become the second leading goal-scorer in AFC Asian Cup history; only Iran’s Ali Daei (14) has registered more goals in the competition.
