AFC Asian Cup, Qatar vs Lebanon Match Result: Akram Afif Scores Brace As Hosts Begin Title Defense With 3-0 Win

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AFC Asian Cup, Qatar vs Lebanon Match Result: Hosts and defending champions Qatar left behind the sorrow of FIFA World Cup failure with a dominating 3-0 win over Lebanon in the AFC Asian Cup opening match in front of home fans in Lusail.

Their star performer Akram Afif (45', 90+6') scored a brace in the win while striker Amoez Ali (54') doubled the lead in the second half against World No. 107 Lebanon. The Lebanese had their chances to get back in the game at 2-0 down but lacked quality in the offensive third.

World No. 58 Qatar started the game with intensity under their new coach Tintin Marquez. However, Lebanon came into the game defending with a five-man defensive wall, forcing Qatar to take a different approach to break down the defense.

Not many clear cut chances were on the offer in the half while Yusuf Abdurisag struggled on the right flank. Akram Afif, however, did manage to hit the crossbar with a towering header following a cross from Yusuf at the half hour mark.

Lebanon box got further dense as Nour Mansour defense cleared everything that was thrown in theo box. However, they did lose their focus late in the half, allowing left-back Mohammed Waad to send in an early cross, which led to the opening goal for Akram Afif, who blast the ball into the net following a setup by Amoez Ali.

Lebanon came into the second half showing purpose as they stared keeping the possession for the first time in the match. However, Amoez Ali soon killed all of that as he guided a perfect cross by overlapping Waad again into the net. to double the scoreline.

Lebanon coach Miodrag Radulovic made changes aplenty after the hour mark as he send a three fresh legs in attack with Omar Chaaban leading the charge. However, the Lebanese never made their chances count and got error prone at the back as well.

They were punished agian in the closing minutes as Robert Melki failed to deal with a lose ball, allowing Akram Afif to get into the box and fire the third goal of the night.

The tournament will move to Al Rayyan for the second match on Saturday afternoon (January 13) as 2015 champions Australia will take on India in Group B's first match of AFC Asian Cup.