AsianCup2023 | Group A : Qatar 3 - 0 Lebanon

The 18th edition of the AFC Asian Cup gets underway in the Lusail Stadium with the defending champions and this year's hosts Qatar taking on Lebanon to kick off the tournament in Group A which also includes China and Tajikistan. Marques Lopez's side will be hoping they can improve on their disappointing World Cup campaign and look to some big names to lead by example with the likes of Almoez Ali, Akram Afif and team captain Hassan Al Haidos in the starting eleven for the opening game. However, Bualam Kouki surprisingly starts on the bench. Lebanon are making just their third appearance in the competition and have yet to make it past the group stage. Head coach Miodrag Radulovic will be relying on the experience of Nourman Sour and team captain Hassan Matouk to hopefully get some early points on the board in Group A. Into the action we go. First real chance of the game coming in the 13th minute. Nice header on there by Almoez Ali into the path of Youssef Abdurizak. The Al Saad striker a little off balance unable to find the target. Then a free kick for Qatar in the 20th minute. Afif with the delivery inwards towards Almady Ali. Mustafa Mata in goal able to make the save in the end. And just a minute later Lebanon come back the other way. Headed on into the path of Hassan Matouk. Shot from distance. Meshel Barca with the save. Awkward angle for the Lebanon captain. Barca doing enough to keep it out. Just past the half hour mark now. Youssef on the ball here. Swings in across. Afif off the top of the crossbar. Really good delivery from Youssef Abdurizak to Al Saad. Teammates combining well but the woodwork denying Qatar the opening goal. They wouldn't have to wait too much longer though. Afif with the first goal of the Asian Cup. And what a fine finish it was as well. 13 goals and 8 assists in 12 games for Al Saad in the Stars League. And now has 27 for the national team as well. Beautiful combination play there. And Afif getting cut on a one goal cushion. Heading down the tunnel for the second half here. 56th minute. Lovely ball in. And it's another great goal for the hosts this time. Almuez Ali with a textbook header. Beautiful cross from Hassan Al Haidos to pick him out. And he just slots it into that bottom corner. Absolutely no chance for Mata. And Qatar in cruise control. 87th minute now. And the best chance for Lebanon to get themselves back into the game. Rolling to Omar Chaban. Coming on in the 70th minute to replace Haidat. Very nearly. His side a lifeline there. He'll be in action again. And stoppage time. A chance even better than the first. Chaban's header straight down the middle. Easy catch in the end for Barca. As Qatar would have the last laugh though. That man Akram Afif with a man of the match performance and a brace to cap it off as well. Simply too fast for Mansour. Lebanon unable to deal with the danger. One touch to take it past the defender and then slots it into the far corner to wrap things up in the Lusail Stadium. So Qatar's title defence gets off to a perfect start with a convincing 3-0 win over Lebanon in Group A. Akram Afif and company can take a huge step towards the next round with another positive result against Tajikistan in five days' time, while Lebanon will look to bounce back when they take on China a day later.