DOHA: Qatar were made to work hard to keep their title defence on track, needing penalties to defeat Uzbekistan in their AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 quarter-final on Saturday. The defending champions found themselves pegged by an exciting Uzbekistan but did just enough to win the shoot-out 3-2. The-AFC.com takes a look at some interesting facts and figures from the last eight tie.
On a roll
Qatar have now qualified for the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup in successive campaigns after having failed to do so in any of their first nine participations in the tournament.
A first
This was Qatar’s first ever AFC Asian Cup penalty shoot-out while it was was Uzbekistan’s third – with all three ending in defeats (3-4 v Bahrain in 2004; 2-4 against Australia in 2019).
Tough tacklers
Qatar attempted 39 tackles against Uzbekistan, their highest in any single AFC Asian Cup game since the start of the 2007 edition; the 26 tackles they won is also their joint second-highest in any game in this period.
Focused
Almahdi Ali recorded 118 touches against Uzbekistan, the highest by a Qatar player in a single game of the AFC Asian Cup since 2007; in fact, his 100 attempted passes is also the highest by a Qatar player in the same period.
Always ready
Jaloliddin Masharipov contested 45 duels against Qatar, the most by any player in a single game at Qatar 2023; in fact, his teammate Abbosbek Fayzullayev’s 37 duels comes in second on the list at this edition of the tournament.
Qatar’s goalkeeper Meshaal Barsham (in yellow) dives to secure the ball during the 2023 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final against Uzbekistan at Al Bayt Stadium on Saturday. (AFP)
