AFC Asian Cup 2019 Final Live Score Streaming, Japan vs Qatar Final Football Live Score Streaming: Japan square off against Qatar in the summit clash of the Asian Cup final at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday. After much drama, three hours before the final, Qatar has been cleared to play in Friday’s Asian Cup final after a United Arab Emirates protest about possible ineligible players was rejected.

While Qatar are eyeing their first title, Japan, on the other hand, are firm favourites to lift a fifth title. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to attend the game. Whoever lifts the trophy will make history and not just because they will be the first to win the new larger cup made for this expanded edition of the tournament. Catch live score and updates of Japan vs Qatar </s> Qatar stunned Japan 3-1 to win their first Asian Cup on Friday sparked by a moment of magic from record-breaker Almoez Ali and after nail-biting late drama. Sudan-born striker Almoez Ali scored with an acrobatic bicycle kick after just 12 minutes before Abdelaziz Hatim curled in a superb second and Akram Afif converted a VAR-assisted penalty to give the 2022 World Cup hosts a famous victory in Abu Dhabi. Qatar survived a scare at 2-0 when Takumi Minamino pulled one back on 69 minutes, only for Uzbek referee Ravshan Irmatov to award the Maroons a penalty on review for a handball by Japan captain Maya Yoshida.

Ali became the first player to score nine goals at a single Asian Cup after only being cleared to play just hours before kickoff following a UAE protest over his eligibility. The Qataris had been pelted with plastic bottles and shoes during the 4-0 semi-final thrashing of hosts United Arab Emirates over the Gulf blockade of the tiny, energy-rich state.

Emirati football officials subsequently lodged a formal protest over the eligibility of Ali and Iraqi-born defender Bassam Al-Rawi, which has been thrown out by the Asian Football Confederation. Qatar had never before gone beyond the Asian Cup quarter-finals but they scored 16 unanswered goals coming into the final and kept a record six clean sheets.

Japan, meanwhile, had never lost an Asian Cup final, winning the last of their record four titles in 2011.

But the Blue Samurai were soon chopped down to size by Ali's outrageous opener, taking him past Iran legend Ali Daei's record tally of eight goals at the 1996 tournament.

Cleverly found by Afif, Ali flicked the ball up to himself before launching into an overhead volley that left Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda helpless as it flew in off the post.

Ali almost scored again within a minute, only to be denied by a desperate block from Yoshida.

However, Qatar doubled their lead in the 27th minute after yet another Afif assist -- his 10th of the tournament -- as Hatim bent in a sumptuous left-foot shot from distance.

Japan, whose only previous Asian Cup defeat by Qatar came 31 years ago, mustered little of note, much to the chagrin of their colourful fans among a crowd of 36,000 -- several sporting fancy dress, including one hardy soul in an inflatable sumo suit.

That all changed when Minamino breached Qatar's defence for the first time this tournament with a delicate chip after Hatim had blazed over from close range.

But moments later Afif ended Japan's resistance from the spot to complete a fairytale triumph for Qatar. </s> It has come down to this, Japan and Qatar are the last two teams remaining in the AFC Asian Cup 2019 which took fans and supporters by storm.

Both squads have proven their worth of being in the showpiece event and after the night, it could be Japan’s record fifth AFC Asian Cup title, or Qatar breaking ground and winning their first.

A lot are on the line for the two teams as Japan are looking to re-establish their dominance in the region. After dispatching of tough teams like IR Iran, this younger Samurai Blue squad have proven that they have what it takes to carry the winning tradition of the stars before them.

Meanwhile, Qatar are also looking to make a splash in the international football scene. As hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, many are wondering just how good their national team can be. Faced against big odds like Korea Republic and United Arab Emirates, the players from Qatar stepped up and people are now taking notice that they may not only be hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup but are also looking to leave a mark.

However, with the AFC Asian Cup 2019 just a few hours away, we take a look at five players who are likely to play a big role in the outcome of tonight’s battle.

One of the Samurai Blue stars to score against tournament favourites IR Iran in the semifinal, Genki Haraguchi has the chance to throw his name into international superstardom if he performs well against Qatar.

The 27-year-old plays club football for German club Hannover 96 and has been a consistent throughout the AFC Asian Cup 2019.

One last great effort is needed and Japan may be crowned as champions again.

One of the young Japanese players to have proven his worth to be part of the new national squad is Ritsu Doan.

With two goals to his name in the competition, he joins Haraguchi with in that distinction.

At 20 years old, the FC Groningen has been a thorn down defences sides when he makes his runs and Qatar should try and always have a defender keep an eye on him or risk him being open to score or assist in Japan’s goal.

The third player on the list, Bassam Al-Rawi also has two goals to his name but could have gotten more if he played in the semifinal clash against United Arab Emirates.

He picked up two yellow cards earlier in the competition – in a group stage battle against Iraq and in the quarterfinal against Korea Republic.

After serving the suspension in the semifinal against UAE, many expect the 21-year-old defender to maintain his aggressive nature and there are few doubting that he may end up on the scoresheet yet again.

Japan’s star striker has certainly delivered when needed as he already has four goals to his name to lead the way for the Samurai Blue.

The 28-year-old Werder Bremen player has been difficult to stop and Qatar’s defences will definitely get tested when Osako is within the penalty box charging for an attempt on goal.

To this point, Qatar have yet to concede a goal and if they want to continue that streak, they should find a way to slow down Osako or the first goal they concede might ultimately cost them the AFC Asian Cup 2019 title.

Last but certainly not the least is Qatar’s striking superstar Almoez Ali.

He has certainly been a revelation in the AFC Asian Cup and leads the competition with eight goals – tying the tournament’s record for most goals in a single campaign.

The 22-year-old has been unstoppable and his mere presence around the box makes life difficult for defenders so Japan need to always mark the Sudanese-born striker to keep him off the scoresheet. </s> Qatar recently won their first ever AFC Asian Cup 2019 after defeating Asian heavyweights Japan 3-1 in the final.

It was an incredible match where Qatar started off well and finished things off just as strong to put the game beyond reach.

The final only highlighted just how impressive Qatar were in the AFC Asian Cup as they scored an impressive 19 goals while only conceding one – and it was in the final.

However, despite this, there are still news that head coach Felix Sanchez may not be a lock to coach Qatar in the future.



 In preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which Qatar are hosting, they might be looking for big-named players to bring them forward and help them compete against the best in the world.

However, many argue what Sanchez has done for Qatar and keeping him should be he priority. </s> Almoez Ali scored with a spectacular overhead kick for a record ninth goal of the Asian Cup to set Qatar on their way to a first continental title with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions Japan.



Ali’s early goal took him past Ali Daei’s 1996 tally and, combined with a 27th minute strike from Abdulaziz Hatem and a late Akram Afif penalty, helped the Qataris make an emphatic statement ahead of their hosting of the 2022 World Cup.



Sudan-born Ali’s record goal came after a protest by the host United Emirates FA into his eligibility to represent Qatar was dismissed by the Asian Football Confederation only a few hours before kickoff.



Japan finally found a way through a Qatar defence that had not conceded in six previous matches when Takumi Minamino scored in the 69th minute but the penalty condemned the Samurai Blue to their first defeat in an Asian Cup final.



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.



Japan, chasing a record-extending fifth title, started the brighter but it was the Qataris who drew first blood through the prolific Ali, who was later named Player of the Tournament.



Afif has set up most of Ali’s goals in the UAE and he was again the provider in the 12th minute with a cross that found the striker in space with his back to goal close to the penalty spot.



There was still plenty of work to do but Ali took a touch off each foot to tee up the ball before angling it past Shuichi Gonda into the corner of the net with a bicycle kick.



The Afif-Ali combination nearly struck again a minute later but the Qataris did not have to wait long to double their lead.



Hatem, who scored the winner against South Korea in the quarter-finals, summoned up another magnificent strike, cutting in from the right before curling the ball past the helpless Gonda into the top left-hand corner.



The Japanese, who had weathered a first-half storm before beating Iran in the semi-finals, kept their composure but were simply unable to break through the compact lines of Qatar’s defence.



Japan skipper Maya Yoshida clashed heads with Boualem Khoukhi on the hour mark resulting in the big Qatari defender being carried off on a stretcher.



The Qatar defence looked less assured without him and Japan took full advantage when Yuya Osako played in Minamino and the winger chipped the ball over advancing goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.



Japan poured forward looking for an equaliser but, after reference to VAR, Yoshida was adjudged to have blocked Abdelkarim Hassan’s header with his hand in the 80th minute and Afif calmly sent Gonda the wrong way from the spot. </s> AFC Asian Cup 2019, Japan vs Qatar Live Streaming: Japan and Qatar clash in the AFC Asian Cup final at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Friday, against the backdrop of political tension. While Japan have the Asian Cup pedigree, Qatar players were pelted with plastic bottles and even shoes by the crowd during their semifinal clash against hosts United Arab Emirates, who went down 4-0 in the clash. Qatar, however, will take confidence from their record-breaking run to their first-ever final. After surviving that ordeal, the 2022 World Cup hosts believe they have nothing to fear from Japan. Here are all the details you need to know ahead of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final clash:

When is the AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan vs Qatar?

The AFC Asian Cup final match between Japan vs Qatar will take place on Friday, February 1, 2019.

Where is AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar?

The AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar will be played at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

What time does the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar begin?

The AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar will begin at 7:30 PM IST.

Which TV channels will broadcast the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar?

The AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar will be broadcast on Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 3, Star Sports 1 (Hindi), Star Sports 1 HD (Hindi), Star Sports 1 (Tamil), Star Sports 1 (Kannada).

How do I watch online live streaming of the AFC Asian Cup 2019 final match between Japan vs Qatar?

AFC Asian Cup match between Japan vs Qatar live streaming will be available on Hotstar. You can catch live scores, live updates and live commentary on IndianExpress.com. </s> Despite failing to win their fifth AFC Asian Cup title after losing to Qatar, Japan admitted that their rivals were simply better in their final clash.

Qatar beat the Samurai Blue 3-1 to lift the title for the first time in history as Japan could not contain the early pressure put on by their opponents in the final match-up.

Takumi Minamino scored Japan’s only goal as it gave a glimpse of a possible comeback, but Qatar dashed all hopes when they scored their third.

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu spoke to AFC and shared his thoughts, revealing that Qatar had the quality and deserved to be champions.

“Our goal was obviously to win the title for our fans, and I feel disappointed that that we could not deliver the win for the people of Japan,” he said.

“It is my responsibility that my players could not show their strength on the pitch. You saw how we started the game, we could not get into our rhythm and there was a mismatch in the systems between Qatar and Japan.

“However, I always believe the winning team [of any tournament] is the strongest one and, in those terms, Qatar were the better side.

“It did not come as a surprise to me because we knew Qatar can have a tight defence as well as strength in attack. They had a quick attack and they can also move the ball and create chances. I think the head coach is building a very good team for the FIFA World Cup in 2022.”

Despite coming short of the title, Moriyasu believes that this bodes well for the young Japanese side as they experience top competition.

“The goal when we came here was to be champions, so obviously I am disappointed.

“I am, however, proud of how we have developed. Coming into the competition, we wanted to have a team that was a blend of both young and experienced players.

“I want to thank the more senior players who have helped the younger ones [in the squad], and I now want the youngsters to retain their hunger to improve.

“The seven matches we have played at the AFC Asian Cup have been against different teams and styles which has also helped us improve as a side.

“I think this tournament will form the base from which we can build a team for the future and I want our staff and players to be proud of what we have achieved here.” </s> ABU DHABI (AFP) - The football may not be of the quality expected at the Euros, but there is always something compelling about watching national teams duke it out for their continental crown. Here is a look at the five leading contenders for football's Asian Cup, which starts in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday (Jan 5):

The Socceroos won the biggest title in their history at the last Asian Cup in 2015, where they edged South Korea after extra time to win a thrilling final in Sydney. It provided further vindication for their switch from Oceania to the Asian confederation in 2006, since when they have never failed to qualify for the World Cup.

However, Australia's star has dimmed in recent times, and after reaching Russia 2018 via the play-offs they exited without a win, scoring only twice in their three group games. New coach Graham Arnold must fill the void left by retired record scorer Tim Cahill, and get the goals flowing again, if the Socceroos are to keep the trophy in Australian hands.

Asia's top-ranked team won credit at last year's World Cup, where they were edged 1-0 by Spain and finished 1-1 against Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, before exiting at the group stage. However, they will want to go home with more than just praise at the Asian Cup, a tournament where success has eluded them since their run of three straight titles ended in 1976.

Ex-Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz, also a former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, has forged a formidable unit which was unbeaten in World Cup qualifying, strolling into the Asian Cup along the way.

Last time around, Iran went out on penalties to arch-rivals Iraq in a pulsating quarter-final which featured four goals in extra-time and a contentious second yellow card for simulation to Iranian defender Mehrdad Pooladi. Similar fireworks can be expected when the two teams meet for their final Group D game on Jan 16.

Japan go into the Asian Cup chasing a record-extending fifth title and in a rich vein of form. The Samurai Blue are unbeaten in five games since Hajime Moriyasu replaced Akira Nishino as coach after their surprise run to the knockout stages of last year's World Cup.

But Japan embark on their Middle Eastern adventure without two players who epitomise their waspish energy - Shinji Kagawa and Shinji Okazaki. Both were omitted by Moriyasu, who looks to Red Bull Salzburg's Takumi Minamino to provide the creative spark in Kagawa's absence.

Portimonense's Shoya Nakajima and Groningen's Ritsu Doan will add thrust as they try to avenge their 2015 Asian Cup flop when they crashed out in the quarter-finals. Southampton defender Maya Yoshida and Galatasaray full-back Yuto Nagatomo bring experience to Japan, who face Uzbekistan, Oman and Turkmenistan in Group F.

Ranked 50th in the world, behind Iran (29) and Australia (41), anything less than the semi-finals would be seen as failure for Japan.



 

 Saudi Arabiaplayers listening to the head of the General Authority for Saudi Sport, Turki Al-Sheikh (centre) at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on June 13, 2018, ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. PHOTO: AFP 



The former giants of Asian football need to reverse a poor run of form as they look to return to the winners' circle for the first time since the 1990s. Victories in 1984, 1988 and 1996 made the Saudis the continent's premier side but despite reaching the 2000 and 2007 finals they have been unable to add to their tally.

There was not much to shout about at last year's World Cup, when Saudi Arabia lost 5-0 to Russia in their opening game and never recovered. In the UAE, a short hop over the Saudi border, Juan Antonio Pizzi - the fourth coach in the Saudi hot seat since the 2015 Asian Cup - can expect an easier ride than in Russia as they open against North Korea on Tuesday.

However, Saudi Arabia flopped at the last Asian Cup, going out at the group stage, and they are under pressure heading into this edition after winning only one of their six games since the World Cup.

In Tottenham Hotspur's swift forward Son Heung-min, South Korea boast Asia's most exciting player and they will be regarded as narrow favourites to hoist the trophy on February 1. The Taeguk Warriors showed their quality when they stunned holders Germany at last year's World Cup and they came within a whisker of winning their third Asian title in 2015, going down to James Troisi's extra-time strike for hosts Australia in the final.

Son will miss South Korea's first two games, against the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan, owing to club commitments with Spurs. But with a wealth of talent including Newcastle's Ki Sung-yeung and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo, man of the match in the 2-0 win over Germany, South Korea should have at least one foot in the knock-out stages by then. </s> Akram Afif made a little history of his own during the final between Qatar and Japan at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 tournament as the Qataris took a deserved lead in the game.

Afif notched up his tenth assist of the tournament thus far, which is an AFC Asian Cup 2019 tournament record, and is also the highest by a Qatar player in the competition.

Almoez Ali already has the record for the most number of goals in AFC Asian Cup history with nine as we speak, and his attacking partner is making waves of his own.

What is most interesting to note is that Afif has ten assists and is the undisputed leader, with Chris Ikonomidis of Australia in a distant second place with just four assists!

It highlights the dominance of Qatar at this tournament, and as things stand, the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts look set to lift their first ever AFC Asian Cup trophy.

You can follow the second half of the final right here on our FOX Sports Asia live blog.
Qatar defeats Japan 3-1 to win the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, earning them their first continental championship title.