2023 AFC Asian Cup Group A

Group A of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup took place from 12 to 22 January 2024.[1] The group consisted of hosts and defending champions Qatar, China, tournament debutants Tajikistan, and Lebanon.[2] The top two teams, Qatar and Tajikistan, advanced to the round of 16.

Teams

Draw position Team Zone Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Finals
appearance
Last
appearance
Previous best
performance
FIFA Rankings
April 2023[nb 1] December 2023
A1  Qatar WAFF Hosts and Second round Group E winners 7 June 2021 11th 2019 Winners (2019) 61 58
A2  China EAFF Second round Group A runners-up 15 June 2021 13th 2019 Runners-up (1984, 2004) 81 79
A3  Tajikistan CAFA Third round Group F winners 14 June 2022 1st Debut 109 106
A4  Lebanon WAFF Second round Group H runners-up 15 June 2021 3rd 2019 Group stage (2000, 2019) 99 107

Notes

  1. ^ The rankings of April 2023 were used for seeding for the final draw.

Standings

Pos Team
  • v
  • t
  • e
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Qatar (H) 3 3 0 0 5 0 +5 9 Advance to knockout stage
2  Tajikistan 3 1 1 1 2 2 0 4
3  China 3 0 2 1 0 1 −1 2
4  Lebanon 3 0 1 2 1 5 −4 1
Source: AFC
Rules for classification: Group stage tiebreakers
(H) Hosts

Matches

Qatar vs Lebanon

The match was originally scheduled to take place at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor. However, the AFC confirmed in 21 August 2023 that the match would be moved to Lusail Stadium, Lusail due to significant interest for fans.[3]

This was the sides' second straight fixture in the tournament, having also met in the previous edition, which was won by Qatar 2–0. Qatar had never lost to Lebanon in their history, with ten wins and three draws in their thirteen previous meetings.

Akram Afif struck once late in each half and Almoez Ali scored another as Qatar cruised to a 3–0 win. Adding on to the seven out of seven matches won in their 2019 title-winning campaign, Qatar thus extended their streak to eight consecutive victories in the competition.

Qatar 3–0 Lebanon
Report
Attendance: 82,490
Qatar
Lebanon
GK 22 Meshaal Barsham
CB 2 Ró-Ró Yellow card 90'
CB 3 Al-Mahdi Ali Mukhtar
CB 12 Lucas Mendes
DM 20 Ahmed Fatehi
RM 10 Hassan Al-Haydos (c) downward-facing red arrow 57'
CM 6 Abdulaziz Hatem downward-facing red arrow 79'
CM 4 Mohammed Waad downward-facing red arrow 72'
LM 11 Akram Afif
SS 9 Yusuf Abdurisag downward-facing red arrow 57'
CF 19 Almoez Ali downward-facing red arrow 78'
Substitutions:
MF 23 Mostafa Meshaal upward-facing green arrow 57'
FW 17 Ismaeel Mohammad upward-facing green arrow 57'
DF 14 Homam Ahmed upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 7 Ahmed Alaaeldin Yellow card 86' upward-facing green arrow 78'
MF 24 Jassem Gaber upward-facing green arrow 79'
Manager:
Spain Tintín Márquez
GK 21 Mostafa Matar
RB 12 Robert Alexander Melki
CB 18 Kassem El Zein
CB 16 Walid Shour downward-facing red arrow 70'
LB 4 Nour Mansour
RM 6 Hussein Zein
CM 20 Ali Tneich
LM 5 Nassar Nassar downward-facing red arrow 87'
AM 22 Bassel Jradi downward-facing red arrow 80'
AM 10 Mohamad Haidar Yellow card 51' downward-facing red arrow 70'
CF 7 Hassan Maatouk (c) downward-facing red arrow 70'
Substitutions:
MF 26 Hasan Srour Yellow card 80' upward-facing green arrow 70'
FW 9 Hilal El-Helwe upward-facing green arrow 70'
FW 11 Omar Chaaban upward-facing green arrow 70'
FW 24 Gabriel Bitar upward-facing green arrow 80'
FW 8 Soony Saad upward-facing green arrow 87'
Manager:
Montenegro Miodrag Radulović

Man of the Match:
Akram Afif (Qatar)

Assistant referees:
Anton Shchetinin (Australia)
Ashley Beecham (Australia)
Fourth official:
Ko Hyung-jin (South Korea)
Reserve assistant referee:
Yoon Jae-yeol (South Korea)
Video assistant referee:
Shaun Evans (Australia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Kate Jacewicz (Australia)

China vs Tajikistan

This was the sides' first competitive meeting since the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification phase, a 0–0 draw. Their most recent meeting was a friendly match in 2019, with China securing a 1–0 victory. In fact, China had never lost to Tajikistan in all five of their previous encounters.

The match was mostly dominated by Tajikistan, who nevertheless failed to convert a single chance from their dominant display into a goal. Their best chance came in the 26th minute when Alisher Dzhalilov was left unmarked in the penalty area, but aimed his shot wide of the post. In the 81st minute, however, in one of China's rare attacking opportunities from a corner kick, Zhu Chenjie appeared to give his side a 1–0 lead from a header, but the goal was disallowed by the VAR system after Tyias Browning was judged to have interfered with play from an offside position.

China 0–0 Tajikistan
Report
Attendance: 4,001
Referee: Mohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)
China
Tajikistan
GK 1 Yan Junling
CB 5 Zhang Linpeng (c)
CB 3 Zhu Chenjie
CB 2 Tyias Browning
RM 21 Liu Binbin
CM 18 Dai Wai Tsun downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 6 Wang Shangyuan Yellow card 28'
LM 19 Liu Yang
RF 7 Wu Lei downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 11 Tan Long downward-facing red arrow 58'
LF 26 Wang Qiuming downward-facing red arrow 58'
Substitutions:
MF 8 Xu Xin upward-facing green arrow 58'
FW 9 Zhang Yuning upward-facing green arrow 58'
MF 23 Lin Liangming upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 10 Xie Pengfei upward-facing green arrow 72'
Manager:
Serbia Aleksandar Janković
GK 1 Rustam Yatimov
RB 5 Manuchekhr Safarov
CB 6 Vakhdat Khanonov
CB 2 Zoir Dzhuraboyev
LB 19 Akhtam Nazarov
CM 7 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev (c) Yellow card 74'
CM 14 Alisher Shukurov downward-facing red arrow 89'
CM 16 Ehson Panjshanbe
RF 13 Amadoni Kamolov downward-facing red arrow 90+6'
CF 9 Rustam Soirov downward-facing red arrow 89'
LF 10 Alisher Dzhalilov
Substitutions:
MF 20 Alidzhoni Ayni upward-facing green arrow 89'
FW 22 Shahrom Samiev Yellow card 90+4' upward-facing green arrow 89'
FW 15 Shervoni Mabatshoev upward-facing green arrow 90+6'
Manager:
Croatia Petar Šegrt

Man of the Match:
Liu Yang (China)

Assistant referees:
Khalaf Al-Shammari (Saudi Arabia)
Yasir Al-Sultan (Saudi Arabia)
Fourth official:
Nazmi Nasaruddin (Malaysia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Mohamad Zairul Bin Khalil Tan (Malaysia)
Video assistant referee:
Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)

Lebanon vs China

This was the first time the sides faced each other in the Asian Cup. Their most recent encounter dated back to 2009, having played home and away during 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, with China emerging victorious in both fixtures. China had never lost against their West Asian counterpart in all five previous meetings, with four wins and one draw.

The opening minutes saw Liu Yang's attempt to deliver a high pass blocked, as no Chinese player managed to capitalize on the opportunity before Lebanon's Maher Sabra cleared the ball with a decisive header in the 19th minute. Lebanon, in turn, launched persistent attacks on China's goal, beginning with Hassan Maatouk's long-range shot in the 24th minute. A counterattack ensued, with Omar Chaaban's shot going just wide of the net in the 34th minute, followed by Khalil Khamis sending a header wide a minute later. In the 44th minute, a well-placed high ball from the left flank by Dai Wai Tsun led to Zhang Yuning's powerful shot, only for Lebanese keeper Mostafa Matar to deny it with a double save. Wu Lei attempted to seize the rebound, but Matar ultimately emerged victorious.

The first half concluded with Maatouk's long-distance attempt for Lebanon in stoppage time, hitting the crossbar of Yan Junling's net. As the second half unfolded, Lebanon continued to test China with long-range shots, including a notable 63rd-minute attempt by Hassan Srour also hitting the crossbar. However, China gradually asserted dominance in the later stages of the half. Despite both teams intensifying their efforts, the match concluded in a goalless draw.

The outcome of the match held significance for China, as it marked an unwanted record of failing to score in three consecutive Asian Cup matches, a feat previously unprecedented for the team in tournament history.

Lebanon 0–0 China
Report
Attendance: 14,137
Lebanon
China
GK 21 Mostafa Matar
RB 18 Kassem El Zein
CB 4 Nour Mansour downward-facing red arrow 18'
LB 13 Khalil Khamis
RM 3 Maher Sabra
CM 25 Hasan Srour downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
CM 20 Ali Tneich
LM 6 Hussein Zein
AM 22 Bassel Jradi
CF 7 Hassan Maatouk (c) downward-facing red arrow 71'
CF 11 Omar Chaaban downward-facing red arrow 90+3'
Substitutions:
DF 12 Robert Alexander Melki upward-facing green arrow 18'
MF 10 Mohamad Haidar upward-facing green arrow 71'
FW 9 Hilal El-Helwe upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
MF 16 Walid Shour upward-facing green arrow 90+3'
Manager:
Montenegro Miodrag Radulović
GK 1 Yan Junling
RWB 21 Liu Binbin downward-facing red arrow 71'
RB 5 Zhang Linpeng (c)
CB 2 Tyias Browning
LB 3 Zhu Chenjie
LWB 19 Liu Yang
RM 8 Xu Xin downward-facing red arrow 71'
CM 6 Wang Shangyuan
LM 18 Dai Wai Tsun
CF 7 Wu Lei downward-facing red arrow 66'
CF 9 Zhang Yuning Yellow card 30' downward-facing red arrow 66'
Substitutions:
FW 11 Tan Long upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 23 Lin Liangming upward-facing green arrow 66'
MF 10 Xie Pengfei upward-facing green arrow 71'
MF 15 Wu Xi upward-facing green arrow 71'
Manager:
Serbia Aleksandar Janković

Man of the Match:
Mostafa Matar (Lebanon)

Assistant referees:
Park Sang-jun (South Korea)
Kim Kyoung-min (South Korea)
Fourth official:
Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Andrey Tsapenko (Uzbekistan)
Video assistant referee:
Kim Jong-hyeok (South Korea)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Kim Hee-gon (South Korea)

Tajikistan vs Qatar

This was the sides' first meeting in the tournament and their first in any competition for twelve years, having met in 2012 where Tajikistan beat the Qataris 2–1 in a friendly. This was also the first competitive fixture to occur between the two. Qatar had only lost once against the sole debutant of this competition after four matches, with the three other encounters ending in Qatari victories.

Tajikistan made a bright start by applying early pressure on to push Qatar on the defence, however a ball won in the midfield saw Almoez Ali seize the opportunity as he provided a clinical pass for Akram Afif, who then struck the net despite Rustam Yatimov's effort to secure Qatar's lead, which turned out to be the only goal of the match. In the 77th minute, in a failed attack from Qatar, Amadoni Kamolov quickly intercepted but his attempt was prevented by Mohammed Waad and Ahmed Al Ganehi, which he later fell and his feet hit the face of Al Ganehi; later VAR consultation resulted in Kamolov being dismissed from the match at the 81st minute, thus killing any hope of a Tajikistani comeback.

Tajikistan 0–1 Qatar
Report
Attendance: 57,460
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
Tajikistan
Qatar
GK 1 Rustam Yatimov
RB 5 Manuchekhr Safarov Yellow card 35'
CB 6 Vakhdat Khanonov Yellow card 81'
CB 2 Zoir Dzhuraboyev
LB 19 Akhtam Nazarov (c) downward-facing red arrow 82'
RM 13 Amadoni Kamolov Red card 81'
CM 7 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev downward-facing red arrow 82'
CM 14 Alisher Shukurov downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
CM 17 Ehson Panjshanbe
CF 9 Rustam Soirov downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 10 Alisher Dzhalilov downward-facing red arrow 90+1'
Substitutions:
FW 22 Shahrom Samiev upward-facing green arrow 46'
FW 15 Shervoni Mabatshoev upward-facing green arrow 82'
DF 3 Tabrezi Davlatmir upward-facing green arrow 82'
MF 20 Alidzhoni Ayni Yellow card 90+10' upward-facing green arrow 90+1'
FW 25 Nuriddin Khamrokulov upward-facing green arrow 90+1'
Manager:
Croatia Petar Šegrt
GK 22 Meshaal Barsham
RB 15 Bassam Al-Rawi
CB 5 Tarek Salman
CB 12 Lucas Mendes
LB 4 Mohammed Waad Yellow card 60'
CM 23 Mostafa Meshaal downward-facing red arrow 59'
CM 20 Ahmed Fatehi Yellow card 45+1' downward-facing red arrow 65'
CM 24 Jassem Gaber downward-facing red arrow 88'
RF 17 Ismaeel Mohammad (c) downward-facing red arrow 46'
CF 19 Almoez Ali
LF 11 Akram Afif
Substitutions:
FW 25 Ahmed Al Ganehi upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 10 Hassan Al-Haydos upward-facing green arrow 59'
DF 16 Boualem Khoukhi upward-facing green arrow 65'
DF 2 Ró-Ró Yellow card 90+11' upward-facing green arrow 88'
Manager:
Spain Tintín Márquez

Man of the Match:
Akram Afif (Qatar)

Assistant referees:
Jun Mihara (Japan)
Takumi Takagi (Japan)
Fourth official:
Yoshimi Yamashita (Japan)
Reserve assistant referee:
Naomi Teshirogi (Japan)
Video assistant referee:
Jumpei Iida (Japan)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Yusuke Araki (Japan)

Qatar vs China

This fixture marked the fifth time that the two sides met each other in the Asian Cup. Their most recent meeting in the competition saw the Qatar win 2–0 in 2011, a tournament also held in Qatar. However, the teams' most recent meeting in any competitive fixture occurred during 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, where China defeated Qatar away 2–1; both matches took place at the Khalifa International Stadium.

The first half saw China aggressively attempt to score against a largely rotated Qatari side, but they failed to do so despite some big opportunities. This proved costly when at the 66th minute, from a perfectly combined corner kick, Hassan Al-Haydos produced a thunderous volley to score the only goal of the match as Qatar confirmed first place in the group with maximum points.

This result meant China had failed to score in four consecutive Asian Cup matches for the first time; following Syria's win over India in Group B, China were eliminated from the tournament, marking their worst-ever performance during participation. Meanwhile, Qatar managed to advance past the group stage for the second consecutive Asian Cup without conceding a goal.

Qatar 1–0 China
Report
Attendance: 42,104
Referee: Abdullah Jamali (Kuwait)
Qatar
China
GK 1 Saad Al-Sheeb (c) downward-facing red arrow 46'
RB 15 Bassam Al-Rawi Yellow card 70'
CB 3 Al-Mahdi Ali Mukhtar
CB 16 Boualem Khoukhi
LB 18 Sultan Al-Brake
RM 8 Ali Assadalla
CM 6 Abdulaziz Hatem downward-facing red arrow 46'
LM 23 Mostafa Meshaal downward-facing red arrow 64'
RF 9 Yusuf Abdurisag downward-facing red arrow 64'
CF 7 Ahmed Alaaeldin downward-facing red arrow 46'
LF 13 Khalid Muneer Yellow card 80'
Substitutions:
GK 21 Salah Zakaria upward-facing green arrow 46' downward-facing red arrow 63'
FW 25 Ahmed Al Ganehi Yellow card 88' upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 24 Jassem Gaber upward-facing green arrow 46'
GK 22 Meshaal Barsham upward-facing green arrow 63'
MF 10 Hassan Al-Haydos upward-facing green arrow 64'
FW 11 Akram Afif upward-facing green arrow 64'
Manager:
Spain Tintín Márquez
GK 1 Yan Junling
RB 21 Liu Binbin downward-facing red arrow 46'
RCB 5 Zhang Linpeng
CB 2 Tyias Browning
LCB 3 Zhu Chenjie
LB 19 Liu Yang
RM 23 Lin Liangming downward-facing red arrow 75'
CM 6 Wang Shangyuan downward-facing red arrow 85'
CM 15 Wu Xi (c) downward-facing red arrow 67'
LM 20 Wei Shihao downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 9 Zhang Yuning
Substitutions:
MF 10 Xie Pengfei upward-facing green arrow 46'
MF 8 Xu Xin upward-facing green arrow 67'
MF 7 Wu Lei upward-facing green arrow 67'
FW 11 Tan Long upward-facing green arrow 75'
DF 24 Jiang Shenglong upward-facing green arrow 85'
Manager:
Serbia Aleksandar Janković

Man of the Match:
Bassam Al-Rawi (Qatar)

Assistant referees:
Abdulhadi Al-Anezi (Kuwait)
Ahmad Abbas (Kuwait)
Fourth official:
Shaun Evans (Australia)
Reserve assistant referee:
Anton Shchetinin (Australia)
Video assistant referee:
Ahmad Al-Ali (Kuwait)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Adel Al-Naqbi (United Arab Emirates)

Tajikistan vs Lebanon

This was the sides' first ever meeting.

In the first half's fifth minute of injury time, Shervoni Mabatshoev managed to score for Tajikistan at the near-left post, only to be ruled out for offside. This was later capitalised on by the Lebanese when, from a counterattack, Bassel Jradi produced a brilliant curled effort to record Lebanon's first goal of the competition and give them the lead. However, a brutal foul by Lebanon's Kassem El Zein on Alisher Dzhalilov in the 52nd minute resulted in his dismissal, and Tajikistan then ramped up pressure further, with Dzhalilov scoring in the 70th minute only to be once again ruled offside. Nonetheless, Tajikistan got their reward in the 80th minute when, from a free kick, Parvizdzhon Umarbayev curled the ball into the net to give Tajikistan the equaliser. Empowered by the goal, Tajikistan then went in front when Nuriddin Khamrokulov struck a strong header thanks to a cross from Ehson Panjshanbe in the second minute of stoppage time. Tajikistan thus knocked Lebanon out of the competition and secured second place in their debut group stage campaign, progressing to the last 16.

Tajikistan 2–1 Lebanon
Report
Attendance: 11,843
Tajikistan
Lebanon
GK 1 Rustam Yatimov
RB 5 Manuchekhr Safarov
CB 6 Vakhdat Khanonov
CB 2 Zoir Dzhuraboyev Yellow card 27'
LB 19 Akhtam Nazarov (c) downward-facing red arrow 90+12'
RM 15 Shervoni Mabatshoev downward-facing red arrow 72'
CM 7 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev
CM 14 Alisher Shukurov downward-facing red arrow 72'
LM 17 Ehson Panjshanbe Yellow card 90+7'
CF 9 Rustam Soirov downward-facing red arrow 72'
CF 10 Alisher Dzhalilov downward-facing red arrow 88'
Substitutions:
MF 11 Mukhammadzhon Rakhimov upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 22 Shahrom Samiev upward-facing green arrow 72'
FW 25 Nuriddin Khamrokulov upward-facing green arrow 72'
MF 18 Ruslan Khayloev Yellow card 90+12' upward-facing green arrow 88'
DF 3 Tabrezi Davlatmir upward-facing green arrow 90+12'
Manager:
Croatia Petar Šegrt
GK 21 Mostafa Matar Yellow card 77'
RB 13 Khalil Khamis
CB 12 Robert Alexander Melki
LB 18 Kassem El Zein Red card 56'
RM 6 Hussein Zein Yellow card 90+4'
RCM 20 Ali Tneich downward-facing red arrow 82'
CM 22 Bassel Jradi downward-facing red arrow 82'
LCM 25 Hasan Srour
LM 5 Nassar Nassar downward-facing red arrow 82'
CF 11 Omar Chaaban downward-facing red arrow 67'
CF 7 Hassan Maatouk (c) downward-facing red arrow 58'
Substitutions:
MF 16 Walid Shour upward-facing green arrow 58'
FW 9 Hilal El-Helwe upward-facing green arrow 67'
MF 10 Mohamad Haidar upward-facing green arrow 82'
FW 19 Daniel Kuri upward-facing green arrow 82'
FW 24 Gabriel Bitar upward-facing green arrow 82'
Manager:
Montenegro Miodrag Radulović

Man of the Match:
Parvizdzhon Umarbayev (Tajikistan)

Assistant referees:
Watheq Al-Swaiedi (Iraq)
Ahmed Al-Baghdadi (Iraq)
Fourth official:
Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)
Reserve assistant referee:
Rashid Al-Ghaithi (Oman)
Video assistant referee:
Khalid Al-Turais (Saudi Arabia)
Assistant video assistant referees:
Mohammed Al Hoish (Saudi Arabia)

Discipline

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

  • first yellow card: −1 point;
  • indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
  • direct red card: −3 points;
  • yellow card and direct red card: −4 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

Team Match 1 Match 2 Match 3 Points
Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Yellow card Yellow-red card Red card Yellow card Red card
 Qatar 2 3 3 –8
 China 1 1 –2
 Tajikistan 2 3 1 3 –11
 Lebanon 2 2 1 –7

References

  1. ^ ""Match Schedule – AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023"" (PDF). Asian Football Confederation. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  2. ^ "#AsianCup2023 Groups Finalised". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  3. ^ "#AsianCup2023 adds world-class Lusail Stadium to elevate fan experience". the-afc. Asian Football Confederation. 21 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

External links

  • Official website