World Cup 2022 hosts Qatar won their first ever Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over four-time winners Japan. Forward Almoez Ali broke the record of goals scored by a player at a single Asian Cup when he notched his ninth with a brilliant overhead kick.

Abdulaziz Hatem made it 2-0 with a 20-yard curled shot before Japan’s Takumi Minamino fired in from inside the box.It was 3-1 when Akram Afif converted from the spot after Southampton’s Maya Yoshida had handled in the area.

The victory was celebrated wildly by thousands of Omanis who had turned out to support Qatar in the absence of their own fans, who were unable to travel because of a deep political rift with the UAE.