JDT TAMED KEDAH IN MALAYSIA CUP FINAL

Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) completed their M-League double after defeating Kedah 3-0 in the Malaysia Cup final. The Super League champions did not face much problems to tame the Red Eagles at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on Saturday.

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JDT opened the scoring in the 27th minute through Leandro Velazquez. Eight minutes later, Safawi Rasid doubled the lead for the Southern Tigers. Kedah struggled to stop their opponent as they were without centreback Renan Alves and rightback Rizal Ghazali due to suspension.

Syafiq Ahmad added the third for JDT after the break to sealed their victory. It is only their second Malaysia Cup title, after winning it in 2017. JDT had also won the Charity Shield early in the season, before winning the Super League in June.

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QATAR CREATE HISTORY WITH ASIAN CUP WIN

Qatar won their first ever Asian Cup after defeating Japan 3-1 in the final at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi. The Gulf side, making a first appearance in the final, sealed the title through goals from Almoez Ali, Abdulaziz Hatem and Akram Afif. Takumi Minamino pulled back with a goal for Japan, but not enough to deny Qatar from winning.

Qatar took the lead with a spectacular bicycle kick by Almoez Ali in the 12th minute. The goal is his ninth in the tournament, took him past Iranian Ali Daei's 1996 tally. Then, Abdulaziz Hatem doubled the lead for Qatar with a long-distance strike in the 27th minute.

Japan got back into the game in the 69th minute after Takumi Minamino beat Saad Al Sheeb. It is the first goal Qatar had conceded in the tournament.

However with eight minutes remaining, Qatar sealed the victory.  Akram Afif converted a penalty after a handball by Japan captain Maya Yoshida.

Qatar have shown a huge improvement at this tournament. They look set to compete against the best in the world at the World Cup 2022. But for now, the new Asian Champions will focus on the Copa America 2019.

QATAR THRASHED UAE IN ASIAN CUP SEMIFINALS

Qatar hammered hosts United Arab Emirates to reach the Asian Cup football final. Dubbed the Blockade Derby, the match was the first meeting between the two regional rivals since the start of the Gulf crisis.

Qatar opened the scoring with Boualem Khoukhi in the 22nd minute with Almoez Ali adding a second 15 minutes later. Hassan al-Haydos added a third in the 80th minute with a chip over the UAE goal-keeper and Ismaeil sealed Qatar's progress with a goal in injury time.

The match was marred by crowd disruptions twice where shoes and bottles were thrown at Qatari players celebrating after scoring. Qatar's qualify to the title match for the first time where it will face Japan on Friday.

JAPAN STUN IRAN TO TAKE ASIAN CUP FINAL SPOT

Japan stunned favourites Iran 3-0 in the Asian Cup semi-finals to move one win away from their fifth title on Monday. Iran have been in excellent form at this tournament with 12 unanswered goals en route to the semis.

Werder Bremen striker Yuya Osako opened the scoring in the 56th minute and added his second from the penalty spot. Genki Haraguchi then scored in stoppage time to complete the victory.

A sad exit for Iran as Japan reached their fifth final in the last 8 tournaments. The Samurai Blue will face either hosts United Arab Emirates or Qatar in Friday's final in Abu Dhabi.

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