Qatar's Abdelaziz Hatim (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. [Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters]

Qatar’s Abdelaziz Hatim (center) celebrates with teammates after scoring their second goal. AHMED JADALLAH/REUTERS

Qatar have won their first major football title by beating four-time champion Japan 3-1 in the Asian Cup final on Friday. It was an improbable run to glory for the Gulf nation as it prepares to host the 2022 World Cup.

The victory in Abu Dhabi against one of the favourites came only hours after tournament organisers announced they had dismissed a challenge by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), whose football association had challenged the eligibility of two Qatar players hours after Qatar beat them 4-0 in the semi-final.

One of them, Almoez Ali, scored the opening goal against Japan in the 12th minute of the game with an audacious overhead kick that secured an all-time tournament record of nine goals for him. Abdulaziz Hatem doubled Qatar’s lead, scoring in minute 27.

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Qatar conceded its first and only goal of the tournament in the second half of the game when Japan’s Takumi Minamino scored in the second half.

A successful penalty shot from Qatar’s Akram Afif restored the team’s two-goal cushion 83 minutes into the game.

Qatar was clearly the underdog, ranked 93rd by Fifa. Japan was 50th, and third in Asia.

Qatar won every one of its seven games in the UAE, scoring 19 goals in all and conceding one.

Qatar's forward Almoez Ali between Japan's goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda (left) and Maya Yoshida during the AFC Asian Cup final. [Kamran Jebreili/AP]

Qatar’s forward Almoez Ali between Japan’s goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda (left) and Maya Yoshida during the AFC Asian Cup final. KAMRAN JEBREILI/AP
Qatar's Bassam al-Rawi, Abdulkarim al-Ali, Mohammed al-Bakri and teammates just after the final whistle. [Suhaib Salem/Reuters]

Qatar’s Bassam al-Rawi, Abdulkarim al-Ali, Mohammed al-Bakri and teammates just after the final whistle. SUHAIB SALEM/REUTERS
Qatar players celebrate winning the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi. [Suhaib Salem/Reuters]

Qatar players celebrate winning the Asian Cup in Abu Dhabi. SUHAIB SALEM/REUTERS
Qatar's Hasan al-Haydos raises the trophy as the team celebrates its first major football victory. [Suhaib Salem/Reuters]

Qatar’s Hasan al-Haydos raises the trophy as the team celebrates its first major football victory. SUHAIB SALEM/REUTERS
Crowds gathered at several specially-built giant screens around Doha to watch the match against Japan. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Crowds gathered at several specially-built giant screens around Doha to watch the match against Japan. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Very few, if any, Qataris travelled to the UAE to watch matches, due to an ongoing political dispute. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Very few, if any, Qataris travelled to the UAE to watch matches, due to an ongoing political dispute. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
People celebrate victory in Qatar's Souq Waqif. The team won every one of their seven matches in the tournament. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

People celebrate victory in Qatar’s Souq Waqif. The team won every one of their seven matches in the tournament. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Thousands of jubilant Qataris flooded the streets of Doha to cheer on their team. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Thousands of jubilant Qataris flooded the streets of Doha to cheer on their team. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Families celebrated the victory.[Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Families celebrated the victory.SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
A large number of people gathered at Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar, one of many public areas where they could watch the game. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

A large number of people gathered at Souq Waqif in Doha, Qatar, one of many public areas where they could watch the game. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Jubilant citizens cheering in Doha after Qatar won its first major football title, the Asian Cup. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Jubilant citizens cheering in Doha after Qatar won its first major football title, the Asian Cup. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Thousands cheered for the Maroons in Doha, watching the game on large outdoor screens. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Thousands cheered for the Maroons in Doha, watching the game on large outdoor screens. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Qataris and expats in Doha cheered every goal.[Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Qataris and expats in Doha cheered every goal.SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA
Celebrations are set to go on all weekend in Doha. [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]

Celebrations are set to go on all weekend in Doha. SHOWKAT SHAFI/AL JAZEERA

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