Sports Saturday, February 2, 2019 13 How coach Sanchez moulded his Young Turks into big champions RAAJIV TRIPATHI young players was cleared. DOHA Qatar’s present 23-man Asian Cup team consists of 14 Qatar’s brilliant young bri- Qatar’s historic triumph players who are 25 or under. gade which authored a golden has driven many points Even the first eleven against chapter in Continental foot- Japan contained six players ball history on Friday had home. The first, it has below 25. The oldest in the Qa- patience and precision as the indeed created a new tar squad is Akram Afif’s elder hallmarks of their epochal centre of football power brother Ali at 30. Rest are not performance. in Asia. With a strong more than 28, including skip- Al Annabi’s great achieve- system of the League and per Haydos. ment also had a lot to do The inclusion of the young with their former FC Barce- various other tournaments players also helped the Qatar lona former youth coach Felix in place, backed by the defence to a great extent. They Sanchez, who deserves to be Aspire Academy, Qatar had players running back im- complimented as much as any have eventually silenced mediately after the loss of other. His belief in the young all detractors who were possession, tightening the players, who grew up and defence and crowding out the graduated under his care and thinking about Al Annabi rivals. This factor also sharp- guidance, ‘set a tune’ too dif- getting a free ride in the ened Qatar’s counter-attack- ficult for any of their rivals to 2022 World Cup as ing abilities, which used to be match in the UAE. hosts. missing earlier. It would also be rather out The young players gelled of place to single out any par- well with senior players and ticular player at this moment. their splendid team work was But it may be fairly added capped with the AFC Cup to- that if forwards Almoez Ali, day. Japan were the first team Akram Afif, goalkeeper Saad in the tournament to get a al Sheeb, defenders Abdelka- goal against Qatar. On the rim Hassan, Pedro Correia or other hand, Qatar, riding Ali’s midfielder Abdelaziz Hatim record tally of nine strikes, excelled, it was undoubtedly slammed 19 goals and won all possible due to the inspira- their seven matches. tional leadership of Hasan al Qatar’s historic triumph Haydos, masterful planning has driven many points home. and the admirable control The first, it has indeed cre- over the players by the Span- ated a new centre of football ish tactician. power in Asia. With a strong Given the responsibility system of the League and of shaping the national team various other tournaments in worthy of being the FIFA 2022 place, backed by the Aspire World Cup hosts, it was quite Academy, Qatar have eventu- unfortunate that Sanchez fell THE TOAST OF THE CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS: Qatar’s coach Felix Sanchez is thrown in the air as his team celebrates their win in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final over Japan at the ally silenced all detractors who short of the nation’s dream Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (AFP) were thinking about Al Annabi last year when Qatar failed getting a free ride in the 2022 to qualify for the 2018 Russia did play well but the defence were quite tight. QFA management and Felix out of time to make any impact began to deliver the goods. It World Cup as hosts. World Cup. was not able to withstand the As a result, Qatar, which swung into action and were as a top tier team in Asia. was tested during plenty of Now the time leading to It may however be re- waves of attacks and cracked did exceptionally well in the forced to take some hard deci- The new experiment of ax- friendly matches and then as the FIFA mega event would be called that in the third stage of under pressure, mostly in the previous stages, finished as the sions as the gone-by opportu- ing some of the ageing players the think tank got satisfied, a more than exciting and worth the WC qualifications, Qatar closing stages. All the matches bottom side in their group. The nity meant Qatar were running and introducing young blood squad with a fair sprinkling of waiting for. ‘Proud’ Almoez says triumph one more step towards 2022 AFP ABU DHABI QATAR stunned Japan 3-1 to capture their first Asian Cup title on Friday sparked by a moment of jaw-dropping bril- liance from record-breaker Almoez Ali and after a contro- versial late twist. Striker Ali scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick after just 12 minutes and Abdelaziz Ha- tim curled in a superb second before Akram Afif converted a VAR-assisted penalty to give the 2022 World Cup hosts a famous victory in Abu Dhabi. Qatar’s Abdelkarim Hassan and teammates celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2019 Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi on Friday. (REUTERS) We need to be proud of this achievement. It’s one more step towards Qatar players celebrate being ready for 2022. Asian title with Omanis, Almoez Ali wait for Doha party “We made history for our REUTERS told reporters. country,” said Qatar coach ABU DHABI “We thank them.” Felix Sanchez. Qatar’s Amir HH Sheikh “We need to be proud of Qatar’s Abdelkarim Has- Tamim bin Hamad al Thani this achievement. It’s one san celebrated his country’s congratulated the team on more step towards being ready maiden Asian Cup title with their first continental title on for 2022.” an Oman flag draped over his Twitter, describing it as an Qatar survived a wobble at shoulders on Friday, a graph- “historic achievement”. two-nil when Takumi Minami- ic recognition of the support “Tomorrow is going to be no pulled one back on 69 min- the Omanis have given the the official celebration with utes, only for Uzbek referee team throughout a difficult everybody,” midfielder Assim Ravshan Irmatov to award the tournament. Omer Madibo told reporters. Maroons a penalty on review A deep political rift in the “I’ve been waiting for this for a handball by Japan cap- Gulf means Qataris, who used moment for a long time. I’m tain Maya Yoshida. to travel freely to the United very happy we made the Qatari “That’s one of the tough- Arab Emirates, are banned people proud of this team,” est ways to lose,” a distraught from entering the country with- Qatar enjoyed the sup- Yoshida told AFP. out a special permit and that re- port of a few dozen Omanis “That third goal is tough sulted in almost none travelling during their 4-0 semi-final to accept. It killed the game. to support their team. thrashing of the UAE, when If that’s a penalty probably I’ll They will get their chance sandals and plastic bottles have to jump without using to show what the victory were thrown at Qatar players my arms.” Qatar’s Almoez Ali offers a prayer as his teammates celebrate winning the 2019 AFC Asian Cup final against Japan at the Mohammed Bin means to them in Doha on by Emirati supporters. Ali, meanwhile, became the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. Man of the tournament Almoez scored a record nine goals in the tournament. (AFP) Saturday but in their absence At the final, they turned first player to score nine goals at Zayed Sport City, thousands out in huge numbers with ma- at a single Asian Cup after be- record four titles in 2011. off the post. came 31 years ago, mustered But moments later Afif of Omanis turned out to cheer roon scarves emblazoned with ing cleared to play just hours But the Blue Samurai were Ali almost scored again little of note, much to the cha- ended Japan’s resistance with them to a 3-1 win over Japan. the world ‘Qatar’ in Arabic before kickoff following a UAE soon chopped down by Ali’s within a minute, only to be de- grin of their colourful fans a cheeky dink from the spot to The UAE, Saudi Arabia, over their heads. Others held protest over his eligibility. outrageous early strike, which nied by a desperate block from among a crowd of 36,000 – complete a fairytale triumph Bahrain, and Egypt cut ties joint Qatar and Oman flags. Surprise package Qatar took him past Iran legend Ali Yoshida. several sporting fancy dress, for Qatar. with Qatar in June 2017. A group of Omanis, some had never before gone beyond Daei’s record tally of eight However, Qatar doubled including one hardy soul in an “We are definitely proud of Oman has taken a neutral po- wearing the maroon scarves, told the Asian Cup quarter-finals goals at the 1996 tournament. their lead in the 27th minute inflatable sumo suit. this,” said Ali after the Qatari sition in the row. Reuters before the match they but they scored 16 unanswered Cleverly found by Afif, Ali after yet another Afif assist – That all changed when players were showered with “We were here in the UAE estimated six thousand Omanis goals coming into the final and flicked the ball up to him- his 10th of the tournament – Minamino breached Qatar’s golden confetti at the trophy and there were no fans and were coming to the game. kept a record six clean sheets. self before launching into as Hatim bent in a sumptuous defence for the first time this ceremony.