Qatar Defeats Iran to Secure a Place in the AFC Asian Cup Final

In the AFC Asian Cup semifinal at Al Thumama Stadium, Qatar advanced to the final by defeating Iran 3-2.

Almoez Ali, the 2019 Most Valuable Player and top scorer, secured the win with a decisive goal eight minutes before the match's end. This victory marked a significant turnaround for Qatar, breaking a six-game losing streak against Iran. The final clash of Qatar will be against Jordan.

Iran initiated the scoring with Sardar Azmoun's acrobatic effort in the fourth minute. Qatar swiftly responded, equalizing with Jassem Gaber's deflected shot, set up by Akram Afif's cutback. Afif later showcased his prowess, scoring a powerful drive just before halftime.

Iran leveled the score in the second half through Jahanbakhsh's penalty after a VAR review determined a handball by Ahmed Fathy. Despite Beiranvand's heroics in goal, Qatar regained the lead in the 82nd minute, as Abdulaziz Hatem set up Ali for the decisive goal.

The match featured additional time due to a red card for Qatar's Afif. Iran made desperate attempts, hitting the post and challenging Qatar's defense, but the defending champions held on for the victory. This hard-fought win propels Qatar to the brink of retaining their AFC Asian Cup title.