Holders Qatar edge 3-2 past Iran to meet Jordan in Asian Cup final

DPA
·1 min read
Qatar players celebrate a goal with fans during the AFC Asian Cup Semi Final soccer match between Qatar and Iran at Al Thumama Stadium. Mosa Alkathami/SPA/dpa
Qatar players celebrate a goal with fans during the AFC Asian Cup Semi Final soccer match between Qatar and Iran at Al Thumama Stadium. Mosa Alkathami/SPA/dpa

Hosts Qatar edged Iran 3-2 on Wednesday to move within one victory of back-to-back Asian Cup titles, a date with Jordan in the final.

Almoez Ali grabbed the winner in the 82nd minute and Qatar then held firm in the remaining minutes which included 13 minutes of added on time in Doha.

Sardar Azmoun had given Iran a fourth-minute lead but Qatar reversed matters before half-time from Jassem Gaber and Akram Afif.

Iran levelled at 2-2 from Alireza Jahanbakhsh's 51st-minute penalty but the 2019 tournament top scorer and MVP Ali finally made the difference. Iran's Shoja Khalilzadeh was dismissed in stoppage time.

Neither Qatar nor Jordan had been rated top contenders ahead of the tournament but will now meet for the trophy on Saturday in Lusail.

Jordan beat South Korea 2-0 in their semi-final on Tuesday.

Qatar players celebrate a goal with fans during the AFC Asian Cup Semi Final soccer match between Qatar and Iran at Al Thumama Stadium. -/SPA/dpa
Qatar players celebrate a goal with fans during the AFC Asian Cup Semi Final soccer match between Qatar and Iran at Al Thumama Stadium. -/SPA/dpa