Asian Cup 2019 results: Qatar mercilessly crushes host UAE

Starting lineup:

Qatar: Al Sheeb, Ro-Ro, Hassan, Salman, Al-Hajri, Khoukhi, Madibo, Al-Haydos, Boudiaf, Afif, Almoez Ali.

UAE: Essa, Abbas, Juma, Ahmed, Esmail, Abdulrahman, Al Balushi, Al Hamadi, Nasir, Mohammed, Mabkhout.

Goal scorer: Khoukhi (22'), Ali (37'), Al Haydos (80'), Ismaeil (90+3).

Qatar team (red shirt) had a convincing victory over UAE. Photo: Vne

Entering the 2019 Asian Cup semi-final, both Qatar and UAE have the strongest squads. While the home team uses a 4-2-3-1 formation, Qatar is more confident with its familiar 5-3-2 tactic.

At first glance, the 5-3-2 is a defensive formation, but it can also easily transform into an attacking formation when the full-backs are pushed forward. The first dangerous chance of the match belonged to coach Felix Sanchez's team, but goalkeeper Essa had a good save.

Unlike in previous matches, Qatar actively attacked UAE from many different angles. In the 22nd minute, Afif had a favorable pass for Khoukhi to shoot into the opponent's net, opening the score of the match.

In the 37th minute, Afif continued to shine in the role of assisting Almoez Ali to double the gap for Qatar. The gap of 2 goals was quite safe, so coach Felix Sanchez's team played low and cautiously for the remaining time.

UAE then launched an attack with nothing to lose. However, Qatar's five-man defense left the home team's strikers in a deadlock.

In the 80th minute, Afif completed his hat-trick of assists for Haydos to put Qatar ahead 3-0. In the remaining time, UAE pressed forward but could not score a single goal of honor, and even conceded a fourth goal.

In the end, the host team of the 2019 Asian Cup fell 0-4 to Qatar in the second semi-final. Sanchez's team won the right to play in the final against Japan.