AFC Asian Cup 2011 - Alkass Broadcast Opening Sequence
Copyright (c) 2011 Alkass Sports Channels
The 2011 AFC Asian Cup was the 15th edition of the continent's prestigious men's tournament, taking place in Qatar from 7 to 29 January 2011. It marked the second time that the Asian Cup has been held by Qatar, after the Gulf nation had first played host in 1988.
The Asian Cup, which came almost five years after Doha staged the Asian Games in 2006, was being closely watched as an indicator to see how Qatar copes with hosting a major international football tournament in the country's preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the tournament of which Qatar recently won the bid just a month prior; two stadiums in Doha that hosted matches in 2011 were eventually used for the World Cup, but one of the two is demolished to give way for a newly-rebuilt and refurbished stadium.
Iraq entered Qatar as reigning champions from four years earlier, only for the Socceroos - all here to announce their presence as a new Asian football powerhouse - to dash the Iraqi’s title defense hopes in the quarter-finals at the courtesy of a last-minute goal by Harry Kewell at extra time.
But days later in the final, right in front of nearly 40,000 fans at Khalifa Stadium, Japan took 109 minutes to fend the Aussies off until their game-winning extra time goal gets finally delivered thanks to an exquisite Yuto Nagatomo cross that was met by a half-volley from Tadanari Lee right to the spot. This ekes out the Samurai Blue a fourth Asian Cup title, a benchmark that remains unmatched to the present day.
