Qatar set up historic final with Japan
30th January 2019
Abu Dhabi: After 50 matches between teams from all over the continent, the combatants in Asia's biggest football fixture have been decided, with Japan to meet Qatar in the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 final.
Who, when, where?
JAPAN v QATAR
Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi - 18:00, February 1
Japan's 3-0 win against Islamic Republic of Iran in Al Ain on Monday and Qatar's victory over hosts United Arab Emirates 24 hours later in Abu Dhabi, sets up a mouth-watering clash between the sides, who will meet in the decider for the first time in the competition's 63-year history.
History will be made whatever the result on Friday.
With Japan having won in all four of their previous appearances in the decider, the match will see a team which has never lost in the AFC Asian Cup final against opponents making their first appearance.
Part of the victorious Japan squad of 1992, Samurai Blue boss Hajime Moriyasu is poised to become the first man to win the AFC Asian Cup as a player and head coach and should the East Asians clinch the title, it will be for a record-extending fifth time.
Conversely, if Felix Sanchez's Qatar are successful, the 43-year-old will become the first Spaniard to ever lead a side to the top of the Asian football mountain.
Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium will stage the showpiece for the second time, with the venue having also hosted Saudi Arabia's win in the 1996 final, when it was known as Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
Source: the-afc.com