The Qatar Men’s Football Asian Cup kicked off on the 16th with two thrilling games in Group F. The Saudi Arabian team pulled off a dramatic stoppage-time victory, while the Thai team defeated the Kyrgyzstan team in a solid performance.
In the first match of the day, the Oman team took an early lead against the Saudi team with a penalty kick in the 14th minute. Despite the efforts of the Saudi team, it wasn’t until the 79th minute that they were able to equalize the score. It wasn’t until the 96th minute of stoppage time that the Saudi team secured the win with a header from captain Blaich, completing an incredible reversal.
In the second game, the Thai team, considered the underdog, outperformed the Kyrgyzstan team with a 2-0 victory. Subachai scored a goal in each half, securing a “good start” for the Thai team.
Following the first round, Thailand and Saudi Arabia sit at the top two positions in Group F, with Oman and Kyrgyzstan in the third and fourth positions, respectively. With a total of 24 teams participating in the Asian Cup, the top two teams in each group and the four best third-place teams will advance to the quarter-finals.
The Asian Cup promises to deliver exciting matches and intense competition as the tournament progresses.