SPORT Saturday 2 February 2019 Qatar's historic Asian Cup triumphh Pages 21, 22, 23 & 24 Almoez, Al Sheeb bag top Asian Cup awards THE PENINSULA ABU DHABI Almoez Ali was named the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) yesterday as his record nine goals helped Qatar clinch the continental title for the first time. Almoez struck once in Qatar’s 3-1 win over Japan in the final at the Zayed Sports City Stadium to also seal the Top Goal-scorer Award on a historic night for him and his team. The 22-year-old Al Duhail forward scored in the 12th minute with a spectacular overhead effort that left Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda helpless. Almoez bettered the previous record of eight goals, held by Iran’s Ali Daei. Almoez, who was also the leading marksman at last year’s AFC U23 Championship in China, had found the net in four of Qatar’s six matches en route to Qatar’s Almoez Ali (centre) poses with the trophy for Most Valuable Player of the tournament with the final, including a four-goal AFC President Salman Al Khalifa and QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani. haul against DPR Korea in the group stage. custodian played a key role in Al historic campaign, keeping six time for his perfect record to Meanwhile, Qatar’s Saad Al Annabi’s unprecedented march successive clean sheets as his side finally be broken, with a goal Sheeb won the Best Goalkeeper to the title, conceding only once became the first in the competi- from Japan’s Takumi Minamino Qatar’s Saad Al Sheeb Award as the competition’s out- in his side’s seven matches. tion’s 63-year history to reach the in Qatar’s 3-1 win in the tourna- celebrates with his Best standing shot-stopper. Al Sheeb was almost final without conceding a goal. ment’s final the only blemish on Goalkeeper Award. The 28-year-old Al Saad unbeatable throughout Qatar’s It took 609 minutes of game his impressive record. Almoez eyes Europe move before 2022 World Cup REUTERS managed the last time the tour- ABU DHABI nament took place in the United Arab Emirates. Almoez Ali brushed off a row His spectacular overhead about his eligibility to scoop an kick not only helped earn his I look for European Asian Cup winner’s medal and country a first continental crown, teams because in our smash a 23-year-old scoring it won the Sudan-born 22-year- league in Asia, not record yesterday, confirming that old the Player of the Tournament Qatar have a potential star in the and top goalscorer awards. only in Qatar, but in making for when they host the “I thought I’d score goals but all of Asia, we know 2022 World Cup. not nine,” he told reporters. teams are weak and Almoez notched his ninth “I thought it could be two or goal of the tournament in the 3-1 three but the team helped me a we see that at the victory over Japan at Zayed lot because they defended so World Cup. They do Sportspy,g City, bettering the record well,,y only conceding g one goal, g, so not go ffar.ar Always, ofof eight that Iranian Ali Daei I would have been embarrassed they go oout: Qatar notnot to score goals.goals. “Breaking Ali Daei’s record was ststrikerriker AlAlmoezm Ali somethingsomething amazing for me.” Almoez, who graduatedgraduated from Qatar’sQatar’s Aspire Academy, said the coach,”coach,” thethe Spaniard said. nextnext stepstep he wanted to take in his “He’s 10010 percent com- careercareer was a move to a EuropeanEuropean mitted,mitted, each game he gives his club.club. all, anandd hhee ararrived at this tour- “Of course,course, I look for namentnament in theth perfect moment. EuropeanEuropean teams becausebecause in our HeHe worksworks forfor the team, he pres- leagueleague in Asia, not onlyonly in Qatar, suressures thethe centrecen backs. butbut in all of AsiaAsia,, we know “He got two awards and teamsteams are weak and we ttheyhey are ffullyu deserved, in seesee that at the World footballfootball we always talk about Cup.Cup. They do not go far. thethe group. Yes,Y he got these Always,Always, theythey gogo out, “ becausebecause of theth group but he also hehe said.said. workedworked reallyreall well. “I hopehope to go out “We’re veryv proud of him. [to[to Europe]Europe] to learn He’sHe’s headingheading the right way.” andand to come backback A ddayay tthatha finished with Ali forfor thethe World allall smiles asas he organised the CupCup in Doha team photophoto withw the trophy on in 2022.”2022.” thethe pitch startedstar out potentially fraught.fraught. Ali and his team-mate BassamBassam AlAl Rawi were the subjectsubject of a protest by the UnitedUnit Arab Emirates FAF over their eligi- Qatar coach Felix bilityb to represent SSanchez,anchez, a former QatarQatar which was dis- BarcelonaBarcelona yoyouthuth coach, said mmissedisse by the Asian Ali’sAli’s value to the team was FFootballootba Confederation not jjustust in hittinhittingg the back of onlyonly hours beforeb kickoff. the netnet.. The strikerstrik said it had not Almoez Ali “Almoez“Almoez is a ffantasticantastic beenbeen worriedworried about it at all. player,player, he’shehe’ s a pleasurepleasure to “No“NoNo concern,”conc he said. SATURDAY 2 FEBRUARY 2019 SPORT 21 Fans in Doha celebrate Qatar’s win in the Asian Cup final against Japan, yesterday. Qatar win hearts not just the Cup FAWAD HUSSAIN “It’s like a dream come This is a historic day for Qatar football. THE PENINSULA true. This victory will go a I congratulate the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin long way in making Qatar Hamad Al Thani on this amazing victory for Qatar’s historic AFC Asian Cup a football force,” Qatar. The team delivered under pressure. triumph seems nothing less than Abdulaziz, 22, a Qatari The players deserve all the a fairy tale. football fan, said. credit for theirir bbeautifuleautiful Their 3-1 victory against “We had already won giants Japan in the final culmi- when we defeated the UAE performance. Thisis is trultrulyy nated their dream run in conti- 4-0 in front of hostile fans a team effort. The coachand and the the nent’s premier national team and this win over Japan is players worked extremelyely hhardard event despite their ordeal in the just icing on the cake,” he in the build-up of the eventvent and UAE, winning them many hearts added. during the tournament. I amm sure the all over the world. Another enthusiast players are already lookingng fforwardorward The 2022 FIFA World Cup thanked fans who sup- hosts entered the 24-team com- ported Qatar in UAE to playing in the Copa Americarica later in thehe summer.summer.”” petition with just an outside Qatar’s Almoez stadiums. chance of winning their first “We really appreciate Ali shakes major title in presence of Asian their support as we were hands with FIFA QFA Presidentdent powerhouses like four-time just confined to cheering President Gianni Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifaa champions Japan, South Korea our national side from Infantino as he bin Ahmed Al Thani and Iran. screens at home,” said is presented But the gutsy Al Annabi side, Khalid Abdullah. the trophy for coached by Spaniard Felix Apart from winning Most Valuable Sanchez, stunned all who came the first-ever title, Qatar on their way with dominating Player of the achieved individual mile- “Congratulations to everyone in Qatar - the performance throughout the tournament. stones as well. Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the tournament. When Almoez Ali Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Yesterday, Qatar started as underdogs incidents. The team continued to play scored yesterday final’s first goal with a fab- Thani and the footballs fans in Qatar. The team against Japan, ranked 43 places higher with true spirit of the game and was ulous overhead kick, he became the first and the backroom staff did an amazing job at than them in the FIFA rankings but that applauded by many included popular man to score 9 goals in a single edition, sur- this tournament. This is a historic night. We made a little impact as Sanchez’s men coach Jose Mourinho. passing Iran legend Ali Daei, who scored toppled their counterparts to clinch their “I feel I should applaud (Qatar’s per- eight goals in the 1996 tournament. broke barriers. We broke records. We achieved first-ever Asian Cup title. formance) because I think it is a victory Qatar’s goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb, who amazing results. It is ssomethingomething truly Earlier in the tournament, they for strategy, organisation and pragmatism. conceded first goal in the tournament in worth celebrating. TThehe best thinthingg shocked South Korea (40 places higher) I think they played the way they wanted second half, yesterday also completed 609 about this is how everyoneveryone feelsfeels in the quarter-finals, and Saudi Arabia to to play,” said Mourinho while assessing minutes with a clean sheet, a new conti- about this win. Our goaloal now is to finish on top of in their group. Qatar’s performance earlier in the nental record. ensure to do everythinghing for our The game of the tournament was tournament. Prior to the AFC Asian Cup, Qatar Qatar’s battle against the UAE in the semi- While the Qatari spectators could not achieved several stunning results including next event which is tthehe CCopaopa final, dubbed as the ‘blockade derby’ which attend the games because of a travel ban their win over World No.