In a thrilling Asian Cup semi-final on Wednesday, hosts and defending champions Qatar edged Iran 3-2 at Al Thumama Stadium.
The match was end-to-end, with both teams creating plenty of chances, and it was striker Almoez Ali who scored the winner for Qatar in the 82nd minute.
The victory sets up a title clash with Jordan in the final on Saturday at Lusail Stadium.
Iran had the better start to the match, scoring in the third minute when Sardar Azmoun netted with an overhead kick.
Qatar equalized against the run of play when Jassem Gaber’s shot from range took a deflection and looped over goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into the net.
Qatar’s Akram Afif nearly made it 2-1, but his shot was well saved, while his effort from the rebound went over the bar.
Afif did get his fifth goal of the tournament on the stroke of halftime when he waltzed into the box from the left channel and pulled the trigger to beat Beiranvand with a shot that arrowed past his outstretched hand into the top corner.
In the second half, Iran came out with renewed vigour and won a penalty for a handball after a VAR check.
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Having scored a late winner from the spot against Japan in the quarter-final, Alireza Jahanbakhsh stepped up once again and fired his spot kick straight down the middle to make it 2-2.
Iran had their chances to score a third through some chaotic moments in the box, but it was Qatar who took the lead again when Ali controlled a pass, turned, and fired into the bottom corner.
Ali, top scorer in the 2019 edition, had been under pressure to score having netted only once in the tournament, and the goal seemed to lift a burden off the 27-year-old.
With 13 minutes added on for stoppages, Iran was then reduced to 10 men when Shojae Khalilzadeh received a red card after a VAR check for barging into Afif during a counter-attack.
Jahanbakhsh nearly equalized right at the death but saw his shot come off the post as Qatar managed to hold on and advance to the final.
Qatar coach Marquez Lopez was pleased with his team’s performance and praised the players for implementing his philosophy and ideas on the pitch.
Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei, on the other hand, expressed his disappointment, apologized to the Iranian people, and took full responsibility for the defeat.
