Almoez Ali (center) celebrates after scoring a goal during the 2023 Asian Cup semifinal match between Qatar and Iran at Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar, Feb. 7, 2024. (AP Photo)
DOHA: Almoez Ali's late goal ensured that Qatar were just one step away from defending their title as they progressed to the final of the 2023 Asian Cup after beating three-time champions Iran 3-2 in a fierce semi-final match at the Al Thumama Stadium here last night.
Sensational striker Akram Afif ensured Qatar came from behind when he scored the team's second goal at the end of the first half after Jassem Gaber Abdulsallam had denied Iran's opener through Sardar Azmoun earlier in the game.
Team Melli coached by Ardeshir Ghalehnoy eliminated top seed Japan 2-1 in the quarter-finals and then tied the score 2-2 at the beginning of the second half through Alireza Jahanbakhsh's penalty, but Ali, the top scorer in the 2019 edition, ensured Qatar reached the final with his winning goal.
The result saw The Maroons claim their first win over Iran since 2009, while the defeat saw Iran continue their journey to the final stage after last doing so when they won their third title in the 1976 edition in Tehran.
In the final at the Lusail Stadium, this Saturday, Qatar led by Marquez Lopez will square off with Jordan, who made history and advanced to the final for the first time after eliminating two-time champions South Korea 2-0, on Tuesday.
In last night's action, Iran took the lead in the fourth minute through Azmoun's scissor kick after Qatar's Pedro Corereia failed to clear Saeid Ezatolahi's header from a long pass from Jahanbakhsh's right.
Mehdi Taremi, who returned from a one-match suspension, missed a chance to double the lead for Iran when he was a little late to grab Jahanbakhsh's cross from the right in the 11th minute.
Abdulsallam equalized for Qatar in the 17th minute after he received Afif's pass from the right, fired a shot that hit Ezatolahi's leg, saw the ball bounce and dive past Alireza Safar Beiranvand in the goal.
Afif had the best chance to put The Maroons ahead in the 32nd minute, but his shot from close range was saved by Beiranvand before his follow-up effort went over the crossbar.
However, the 27-year-old Al Sadd player's disappointment was rectified after he scored a beautiful goal through a powerful shot from inside the penalty box in the 43rd minute, resulting from Ahmed Fathy Abdoulla's pass which earlier snatched the ball from the opponent in style.
It was Afif's fifth goal of the campaign this time and was only separated by one goal from the leader Aymen Hussein from Iraq who collected a total of six goals.
Qatar's goal was almost conceded at the end of the first half, as Lucas Mendes saved two consecutive attempts from Hossein Kanani near the goal line in added time to keep the score 2-1 at the break.
Continuing the second half, Iran did not wait long to equalize through Jahanbakhsh's penalty in the 51st minute when the referee confirmed that Ezatolahi's shot hit Abdoulla's hand after examining the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) footage on the side of the field.
The score remained 2-2 until entering the last 10 minutes of the match before Ali scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute after controlling Abdulaziz Hatem's pass well before unleashing a shot from close range to beat Beiranvand for the third time.
Entering extra time that lasted 17 minutes, the drama of the match culminated with Shoja Khalilzadeh being shown a red card in the 90th+3rd minute for a foul on Afif before Jahanbakhsh's effort from the right just rattled the post in the 90th+14th minute.
Sensational striker Akram Afif ensured Qatar came from behind when he scored the team's second goal at the end of the first half after Jassem Gaber Abdulsallam had denied Iran's opener through Sardar Azmoun earlier in the game.
Team Melli coached by Ardeshir Ghalehnoy eliminated top seed Japan 2-1 in the quarter-finals and then tied the score 2-2 at the beginning of the second half through Alireza Jahanbakhsh's penalty, but Ali, the top scorer in the 2019 edition, ensured Qatar reached the final with his winning goal.
The result saw The Maroons claim their first win over Iran since 2009, while the defeat saw Iran continue their journey to the final stage after last doing so when they won their third title in the 1976 edition in Tehran.
In the final at the Lusail Stadium, this Saturday, Qatar led by Marquez Lopez will square off with Jordan, who made history and advanced to the final for the first time after eliminating two-time champions South Korea 2-0, on Tuesday.
In last night's action, Iran took the lead in the fourth minute through Azmoun's scissor kick after Qatar's Pedro Corereia failed to clear Saeid Ezatolahi's header from a long pass from Jahanbakhsh's right.
Mehdi Taremi, who returned from a one-match suspension, missed a chance to double the lead for Iran when he was a little late to grab Jahanbakhsh's cross from the right in the 11th minute.
Abdulsallam equalized for Qatar in the 17th minute after he received Afif's pass from the right, fired a shot that hit Ezatolahi's leg, saw the ball bounce and dive past Alireza Safar Beiranvand in the goal.
Afif had the best chance to put The Maroons ahead in the 32nd minute, but his shot from close range was saved by Beiranvand before his follow-up effort went over the crossbar.
However, the 27-year-old Al Sadd player's disappointment was rectified after he scored a beautiful goal through a powerful shot from inside the penalty box in the 43rd minute, resulting from Ahmed Fathy Abdoulla's pass which earlier snatched the ball from the opponent in style.
It was Afif's fifth goal of the campaign this time and was only separated by one goal from the leader Aymen Hussein from Iraq who collected a total of six goals.
Qatar's goal was almost conceded at the end of the first half, as Lucas Mendes saved two consecutive attempts from Hossein Kanani near the goal line in added time to keep the score 2-1 at the break.
Continuing the second half, Iran did not wait long to equalize through Jahanbakhsh's penalty in the 51st minute when the referee confirmed that Ezatolahi's shot hit Abdoulla's hand after examining the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) footage on the side of the field.
The score remained 2-2 until entering the last 10 minutes of the match before Ali scored the winning goal in the 82nd minute after controlling Abdulaziz Hatem's pass well before unleashing a shot from close range to beat Beiranvand for the third time.
Entering extra time that lasted 17 minutes, the drama of the match culminated with Shoja Khalilzadeh being shown a red card in the 90th+3rd minute for a foul on Afif before Jahanbakhsh's effort from the right just rattled the post in the 90th+14th minute.
