Abdel Aziz Hatim (right) of Qatar vies with Lin Liangming of China during the Group A match between Qatar and China of AFC Asian Cup at Khalifa international statium in Doha, Qatar, on Jan 22, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

DOHA - The group stage of the AFC Asian Cup in Qatar concluded on Thursday, showcasing the significant progress and promising future of Asian football.

Traditional powerhouses continued their dominance, while the impressive performances of lower-ranked teams indicate a rising overall standard in Asian football.

Defending champions Qatar, playing at the Lusail Stadium, secured a commanding 3-0 victory over 107th-ranked Lebanon in the tournament opener. They went on to beat Tajikistan and China, advancing to the knockout stage with a perfect nine points from Group A.

Iraq, the 2007 champions, topped the group with three consecutive victories, signaling their return to prominence after over a decade

Akram Afif displayed exceptional skills and resilience in the group matches, scoring two goals against Lebanon and delivering a decisive strike against Tajikistan. His assist for Hasan Al Haydos in a corner in the final group match ended China's hopes of advancing.

While teams like Qatar predictably reached the knockout phase, the final standings in Groups D and E reflect growing competitiveness in Asian football.

Japan, the top-ranked AFC team, faced unexpected challenges from Vietnam, trailing 1-2 at one point before the four-time champions rallied to a 4-2 victory.

After a loss to Iraq and a win against Indonesia, Japan finished second in Group D.

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Iraq, the 2007 champions, topped the group with three consecutive victories, signaling their return to prominence after over a decade.

South Korea had a bumpy journey to the last 16, narrowly defeating Bahrain in their opening game and then drawing with Jordan and Malaysia.

However, its midfielder Lee Kang-in was one of the young stars to watch as the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder scored twice against Bahrain, and provided a crucial free-kick in the match against Malaysia. South Korea finished second in Group E, behind Bahrain.

Tajikistan, making their Asian Cup debut, secured the runner-up spot in Group A after defeating Lebanon in their final group game. While Tajikistan celebrated their qualification, China exited the tournament without scoring a goal - the worst performance in their history.

Palestine emerged as a standout team in the group stage. After a loss to Iran and a draw with the United Arab Emirates, they clinched a 3-0 win over Hong Kong, China, reaching the knockout stage for the first time.

Though facing a formidable challenge against host Qatar in the round of 16, Palestine has already achieved a commendable feat.

The Asian Cup knockout phase begins on Sunday, with Group B winner Australia facing Indonesia and Tajikistan meeting the United Arab Emirates.