<p>Qatar defeated Jordan 3-1 at the Lusail Stadium on Saturday to successfully defend their AFC Asian Cup championship.</p>
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<p>With a hat-trick of penalties in the final, Akram Afif made history for the hosts by becoming the first team to win the Asian Cup again since Japan in 2004.</p>
<p>Afif accomplished a feat by driving the ball into the back of the goal from his location, becoming him the first player to score a hat trick in the continental showcase final. His celebration was appropriate for the moment.</p>
<p>Following his low-struck penalty kick that put the ball in the back of the goal, the forward took a card out of his socks and swung it about as the picture on it changed.</p>
<p>“My teammates’ faith in me allowed me to score the penalties. After the win, he said, “It is not about technique, it is about the feeling that people are behind me, my team.”</p>
<p>Marquez Lopez, a Spanish coach signed in December, led the winning Qatari team.</p>
<p>It was a really challenging game. There was a lot of stress. After the victory, Lopez said, “Maybe it wasn’t the gorgeous football everyone had hoped for, but everyone remembers the winner.”</p>
<p>Afif won the championship as well as the best-player and top-scorer trophies, and Lopez praised his efforts as well. Including the three goals from penalties in the summit match, Afif scored eight goals overall throughout the tournament.</p>
<p>“I’m delighted that Akram took home every single individual prize. The coach went on, “He deserved to win them.”</p>
<p>The victory would serve as atonement for the Qaar team, who had suffered the worst-ever showing as the host country at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, losing all three of their group stage matches.</p>
