Qatar retained the Asian Cup title as Akram Afif scored a hat-trick of penalties to seal a 3-1 win over Jordan in Saturday's final.

Afif kept his cool three times from 12 yards at Lusail Stadium, completing his first international hat-trick, and becoming the first player to score one in the final of an Asian Cup.

Yazan Al Naimat had brilliantly dragged maiden finalists Jordan level, cancelling out the first of Afif's spot-kicks, in the 67th minute.

Yet with the help of VAR, referee Ming Na rightly awarded a further two penalties the hosts' way, with Afif's composure ensuring Qatar became the first team since Japan in 2004 to win successive Asian Cup titles.

Jordan reached the Asian Cup final for the first time in their history thanks to a richly deserved 2-0 win over South Korea in Qatar.

Second-half strikes from Yazan Al Naimat and Mousa Al-Taamari ended the hopes of Son Heung-min and his team-mates at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium on Tuesday.

Jordan had dominated from the off, with near misses from Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung – and a penalty that was rightly overturned after a VAR check – all that pre-tournament favourites South Korea mustered. Son did not even have a shot.

Al Naimat and Al-Taamari's quality shone through, and Jordan, who were backed by a vociferous support, will now face Iran or the holders and hosts Qatar in Saturday's final.

Son Heung-min proved the hero as South Korea defeated Australia 2-1 in extra time to progress to the semi-finals of the Asian Cup.

Victory kept alive South Korea's hopes of a third Asian Cup title and a first since 1960, as they teed up a last-four tie with Jordan, who beat Tajikistan 1-0.

South Korea had to do it the hard way at Al Janoub Stadium on Friday, after Craig Goodwin volleyed Australia ahead in the first half.

Hwang Hee-chan’s stoppage-time penalty forced extra time, however, with Son's spectacular free-kick in the 104th minute securing the win, with Aiden O'Neill's VAR-awarded red card then compounding Australia's frustration.

"This isn't really the way we want to win matches but we were ready to battle hard," Son said.

"Winning this way will help with the morale of the whole team. I was really touched by the sacrifices that everyone on the team made. Each and every one of the team deserves to be complimented."

Australia goalscorer Goodwin said: "We were one minute away from going through.

"If we had taken those chances, we could have put the game to bed but Korea is a great team with great players and we gave them some opportunities from set-pieces that we didn't need to. And when they have quality like that with Son, they punished us."

South Korea's victory came after Jordan had snapped the dream run of tournament debutants Tajikistan.

Vahdat Hanonov's own goal midway through the second half proved decisive at Ahmad bin Ali Stadium.

Mousa Tamari had the chance to extend Jordan's lead but the winger shot just wide from inside the area.

Jordan fought back to beat 10-man Iraq 3-2 and clinch their place in the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Monday.

Iraq's Aymen Hussein turned from hero to zero as, moments after putting Iraq ahead, he was sent off, having received a second yellow card for excessive celebrations at Khalifa International Stadium.

Down to 10 men, Iraq could not withstand Jordan's fightback and conceded twice in stoppage time to end their hopes of winning the competition for a second time.

Hussein struck in the 76th minute to spark wild celebrations, including him sitting cross-legged on the field and mimicking eating.

Iraq's joy soon turned to frustration, though, when referee Alireza Faghani booked Hussein for a second time.

It got worse for the 2007 champions when Yazan Al Arab levelled in the fifth minute of added time, with Nizar Al Rashdan going on to drill in a winner two minutes later.

Jordan advanced as one of the best third-placed teams and took the lead in the first minute of first-half stoppage time through Yazan Al Naimat.

Suad Natiq equalized for Iraq prior to Hussein's fifth goal of the tournament sparking the chaotic finale.

Jordan will play tournament debutants Tajikistan in the last eight.

In the day's other match, Akram Afif delivered again for Qatar as the hosts and defending champions overcame Palestine 2-1.

Afif has established himself as one of the stars of the tournament, and if he can keep up this form he may yet achieve his ambition of joining a European club.

The forward struck from the penalty spot in the 49th — his fourth goal of the Asian Cup — as Qatar came from behind at Al Bayt Stadium, with Hassan Al Haydos having cancelled out Oday Dabbagh's clinical finish.

Qatar will play either Uzbekistan or Thailand for a place in the last four.

South Korea have avoided a round-of-16 clash with pre-Asian Cup favourites Japan after drawing 3-3 with Malaysia on Thursday.

Jurgen Klinsmann's team advanced as the runners-up in Group E after conceding in the 15th-minute of added time at Al Janoub Stadium.

Romel Morales struck late to level the group game and ensure Bahrain - who won 1-0 against third-placed Jordan - advanced as the group winners to face Japan. 

Despite losing, Jordan advanced as one of the best third-placed teams and will take on Iraq next.

South Korea were another of the pre-tournament favourites, but, like Japan, have had their setbacks in the group stage and progressed with one win and two draws.

A Son Heung-min penalty four minutes into injury time gave his team a 3-2 lead against Malaysia that would have sealed first place.

But Morales secured Malaysia's only point of the tournament by firing into the bottom corner from outside the area.

South Korea led through Jeong Woo-yeong's header in the 21st minute. Faisal Halim levelled six minutes after half-time and Malaysia had the chance to go ahead after Seol Young-woo fouled Arif Aiman in the box. Aiman stepped up and converted from the penalty spot.

South Korea equalised in the 83rd minute thanks to an own goal by Syihan Hazmi before the dramatic conclusion.

Klinsmann may be grateful to avoid Japan for now, even as the four-time champions had their own problems and finished runners-up in Group D behind Iraq.

Bahrain lost their opening game to South Korea but advanced to the knockout stage at the top of Group E after back-to-back 1-0 wins. It was Abdulla Yusuf Helal who struck in the 34th at Khalifa International Stadium to beat Jordan.

The last two matches of the group stage came in Group F, with both contests finishing as draws.

Saudi Arabia topped the group after drawing 0-0 with Thailand, who progressed as runners-up, while a 1-1 draw between Oman and Kyrgyzstan in the other game means both teams are eliminated.

South Korea versus Saudi Arabia looks like a standout last-16 fixture, with that contest due to take place on January 30.

Japan will play Bahrain a day later, while some of the other key contests include Iran meeting Syria and hosts Qatar going up against Indonesia.

The knockout stage starts on January 28 as Australia take on Indonesia.

Despite going ahead after an early strike by Son Heung-min, South Korea needed a last-minute own goal to salvage a 2-2 draw with Jordan at the Asian Cup.

Yazan Al-Arab's late intervention at the Al Thumama Stadium prevented a second surprise result in the space of 24 hours after Iraq had stunned tournament favourites Japan.

The draw leaves both South Korea, led by former United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann, and Jordan with four points from the first two games in Group E.

"It was a very, very intense game, which we expected," Klinsmann said. 

"After we got the lead, we were too slow. We were not physical enough. We lost one-on-one battles on the field, and that gave them a lot of energy."

Klinsmann, who won the 1990 World Cup with West Germany, was more satisfied with the second-half fightback.

He added: "We were in control. We created enough chances to win this game. Still, a tie is fine at the end of the day."

South Korea, two-time champions but searching for a first title since 1960, started well. After just five minutes, Son was fouled in the area by Ehsan Haddad. After a four-minute long VAR check, the Tottenham captain scored from the spot.

Jordan levelled after 37 minutes as Park Yong-woo headed a corner into his own net. Six minutes into first-half stoppage time, Jordan took the lead on Yazan Al-Naimat's goal.

But South Korea's pressure paid off in the first minute of second-half stoppage time. Son pulled the ball back in the area for Hwang In-beom and the low shot from the Red Star Belgrade midfielder was turned into his own goal by Al Arab.

Also in Group E, Bahrain beat Malaysia 1-0 to go third with three points. Ali Madan scored the only goal of the game in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time to leave Malaysia pointless.

The top two from each of the six groups advance to the round of 16, where they are joined by the four best-performing third-place teams.

The entertaining Saturday play came after two low-scoring affairs rounded out the action on Friday.

Indonesia moved level with Japan in the Group D standings after beating Vietnam 1-0.

The deadlock was broken after 42 minutes when Nguyen Thanh Binh pulled Rafael Struick's shirt in the area. Captain Asnawi Mangkualam fired home the penalty to give Indonesia a chance of a place in the knockout stage for the first time.

Vietnam, who have lost both of their games, were reduced to 10 men late in the game after Le Pham Thanh Long's second yellow card.

In Group C, Iran defeated Hong Kong 1-0 to secure a place in the round of 16. Mehdi Ghayedi scored with more than an hour left.

The win put three-time champions Iran on top, two points ahead of the United Arab Emirates. The teams meet on Tuesday.

Hong Kong stayed bottom with successive defeats and are a point behind their final group opponents Palestine.

Lee Kang-in's individual brilliance inspired South Korea to a 3-1 victory over Bahrain in the Asian Cup on Monday.

Used to being overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe at club level and Son Heung-min on the international stage, Paris Saint-Germain's Lee took centre stage at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

While Son missed a golden chance late on and was also booked for diving, Lee scored two picture-perfect goals to get South Korea off to a winning start in the competition the country has not won since claiming back-to-back titles in 1956 and 1960.

Not that he was comfortable with the spotlight.

"I would just like to say and highlight that it is not about individual performance. It's not just about my two goals. All the goals we score are very important for the team," he said after the Group E match.

His coach Jurgen Klinsmann was also restrained in his praise.

"If you score two in the opening game of the Asian Cup for us you deserve to be man of match and [it was] a very good performance. But I have to keep him on the ground every day," he said with a smile.

The game was tied at 1-1 when Lee took control, giving South Korea a 2-1 lead in the 56th minute with a left-footed shot from around 30 yards.

He was equally clinical as he scored his second goal 12 minutes later when showing sharp footwork and curling the ball into the bottom corner.

Hwang In-beom had given South Korea a first-half lead, but Bahrain equalised six minutes after the break through Abdullah Al Hashash.

Jordan sit top of Group E on goal difference after a 4-0 win over Malaysia.

Mahmoud Al Mardi and Mousa Tamari scored two goals each in the match at Al Janoub Stadium.

Jordan raced to a 3-0 half-time lead, with Al Mardi on target twice and Tamari scoring from the spot. The latter, who also had a goal disallowed by VAR, doubled his tally in the 85th minute.

In Group D, Iraq moved level with Japan on three points thanks to a 3-1 defeat of Indonesia.

Goals from Mohanad Ali, Osama Rashid and Aymen Hussein secured victory at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, while Marselino Ferdinan netted for Indonesia, who are making their first appearance in an Asian Cup in 16 years.

Jamaica’s Reggae Boyz will prepare for the 2023 Concacaf Gold Cup scheduled for June 24-July 16 in the USA and Canada with two friendlies against Qatar and Jordan on June 15^th and June 19^th, respectively, at the Wiener Neustadt Ergo Arena in Austria.

The Reggae Boyz last faced Qatar on August 26^th last year, playing out a 1-1 draw while this will be the first time Jamaica and Jordan will be doing battle.

JFF President Michael Ricketts said the matches are to give the Reggae Boyz the best opportunities to prepare for the Gold Cup.

“We want to place coach Hallgrimsson and his team in the best position to perform at their optimum at the Gold Cup,” Ricketts said.

“This is the third year consecutively that we will be hosted in this city, a location that is perfect for preparation. I believe that with the quality of the team we now have, combined with the quality of coaching, we have an outstanding opportunity to create history by winning the coveted trophy.”

Jamaica’s first match of the 2023 Gold Cup will come against defending champions USA on June 24^th at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Luis Enrique wants his Spain side to go all the way to the World Cup final in Qatar after they cruised to a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their final warm-up match before the tournament.

Spain's young stars won the game, with Ansu Fati setting them on their way with a 13th-minute strike before Gavi and Nico Williams added second-half goals to make it eight wins from their last 11 matches, though Jordan did score a late consolation. 

Spain have not made it past the round of 16 at a World Cup since winning the tournament in 2010, but Luis Enrique's sights are firmly set on the final on December 18.

"We are seventh in the FIFA ranking," he told reporters at his post-match press conference. "Our goal is to play seven games in Qatar.

"I have seen the team play well [against Jordan], even if it was not the best time to play so close to the World Cup.

"I think we have played a good game. The result was the least important today, but it's always better to win."

Fati and Marco Asensio starred in the victory, and Luis Enrique was full of praise for the pair after the match.

"It's great news. He [Fati] has a great relationship with the goal," the head coach added. "He [Asensio] has been at another level, excellent.

"He has played as a false nine player, and very well. With that attitude, with the quality he has, he can play wherever."

Goals from Ansu Fati, Gavi and Nico Williams gave Spain a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jordan on Thursday in their final warm-up match before the World Cup.

Luis Enrique's men were dominant throughout and took the lead through Fati's blasted effort early in the first half.

Gavi finished beautifully for their second before Williams added a third, and though Jordan scored a late consolation, Spain made it eight wins from their last 11 matches as they head to Qatar in excellent form.

Spain will now turn their attentions to putting together the finishing touches ahead of their World Cup campaign, having not made it past the round of 16 since winning the tournament in 2010.

Fati put Spain ahead after 13 minutes when Marco Asensio laid the ball off to him in the box before the Barcelona man's low shot went in under Jordan goalkeeper Abdallah Al Fakhouri.

Jordan had a great chance to level moments later, though Yazan Al Naimat could only fire straight at Robert Sanchez after catching Pau Torres in possession just outside Spain's box.

Fati nearly scored his second before the break, but his looping effort landed on top of the net as he continued to threaten down Spain's left.

Gavi made it 2-0 after the interval, the ball falling kindly for him in the box before the midfielder coolly stroked into the bottom right corner.

Williams scored a third with a sublime late strike, shifting onto his left foot before slamming into the far corner after receiving a pass from Yeremy Pino.

Jordan pulled a goal back in injury-time, Hamza Al Dardoor bringing a Mohammed Abu Zurayq cross from the right down before poking past substitute goalkeeper David Raya, though it was not enough to stop Spain from heading to the World Cup in high spirits.

Australia prepared for their World Cup play-off with the United Arab Emirates by coming from behind to beat Jordan 2-1.

The Socceroos will face the UAE next Tuesday, with the winner progressing to an intercontinental play-off against Peru for a place at Qatar 2022.

Australia went winless in their final three games of the third round of qualifying and fell behind at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Qatar on Wednesday.

Mousa Al Tamari's long-range effort gave Jordan a 17th-minute lead, the winger finding the bottom-left corner.

However, Bailey Wright levelled matters five minutes before half-time as he headed home at the far post from Craig Goodwin's free-kick.

Aaron Mooy struck the post with a free-kick of his own and it was a set-piece that provided the decisive goal in the 68th minute, Awer Mabil netting from point-blank range after Jordan failed to clear their lines from a corner.

Australia sealed a perfect passage through to the 2022 World Cup third qualifying round thanks to Harry Souttar's header in Wednesday's 1-0 win over Jordan in Kuwait.

The Socceroos were already guaranteed top spot in Group B and made it eight wins from eight in qualifying for the first time ever with their three points at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium.

Souttar's goal – the Stoke City defender's sixth in five internationals – ended Jordan's hopes of qualifying and that frustration told as Mousa Suleiman was shown a late red card.

Jordan had lost only one of their previous seven internationals but struggled to create any meaningful opportunities, which was also true of their opponents for large parts.

Trent Sainsbury sent an unmarked header just past the post and James Holland's strike soon after hit the upright as Australia's superiority slowly started to show.

And that pressure paid off as Souttar met Martin Boyle's inswinging corner to put his side on course for their first ever back-to-back victories against Jordan.

Tempers then flared in the 87th minute following Ehsan Manel Haddad's challenge on Aziz Behich, culminating in Suleiman being sent off for clashing heads with the Australia wing-back.