Soccer-Qatar Beat Iran In Asian Cup Thriller To Return To Final – News18

DOHA:Hosts and defending champions Qatar edged Iran 3-2 in an exhilarating Asian Cup semi-ultimate on Wednesday with striker Almoez Ali scoring the winner to arrange a title conflict with Jordan.

In an finish-to-finish recreation at Al Thumama Stadium, Ali netted within the 82nd minute whereas Iran misplaced Shojae Khalilzadeh to a late pink card in stoppage time as Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei misplaced for the primary time since he took cost final yr.

Qatar will tackle Jordan within the ultimate on Saturday at Lusail Stadium.

“I’m very happy for everybody, the people of Qatar, the fans and the players. It was a complicated match but I think we played well. The players did not spare any effort,” Qatar coach Marquez Lopez advised reporters.

“The players implemented my philosophy and ideas on the pitch so they deserve my thanks… Now we have one final step left to defend our title.”

Iran wasted no time in getting on the board when Qatar did not take care of an extended throw-in and Sardar Azmoun scored with an overhead kick to present Ghalenoei’s aspect a 3rd-minute lead.

Iran continuously bought in behind Qatar’s defence nevertheless it was the hosts who equalised in opposition to the run of play when Jassem Gaber’s shot from vary took a deflection and looped over goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into the online.

Qatar’s Akram Afif almost made it 2-1 when the ball fell to him and he raced away with Iran’s defenders giving chase however his shot was properly saved whereas his effort from the rebound went over the bar.

FIFTH GOAL

But Afif bought his fifth purpose of the event on the stroke of halftime when he waltzed into the field from the left channel and pulled the set off to beat Beiranvand with a shot that arrowed previous his outstretched hand into the highest nook.

However, Iran got here out with renewed vigour for the second half and received a penalty for a handball after a VAR verify when Saeid Ezatolahi shot straight at Ahmed Fathy, who was making an attempt to guard his face and switch away.

Having scored a late winner from the spot in opposition to Japan within the quarter-ultimate, Alireza Jahanbakhsh stepped up as soon as once more and fired his spot kick straight down the center to make it 2-2.

Iran had their possibilities to attain a 3rd via some chaotic moments within the field nevertheless it was Qatar who took the lead once more when Ali managed a move, turned and fired into the underside nook.

Ali, high scorer within the 2019 version, had been beneath strain to attain having netted solely as soon as within the event and the purpose appeared to raise a burden off the 27-yr-outdated.

RED CARD

With 13 minutes added on for stoppages, Iran have been then diminished to 10 males when Khalilzadeh barged into Afif throughout a counter-assault, with the referee upgrading his yellow card after a VAR verify.

Jahanbakhsh almost equalised proper on the demise however noticed his shot come off the publish as Qatar managed to carry on and advance to the ultimate.

“I apologise to the Iranian people, we had a responsibility to make them happy today. I want to thank all my players, they gave everything,” Ghalenoei mentioned.

“If you’re looking for someone responsible for this defeat, it is me – not the federation or players. I think today was one of the worst days I’ve had in my life.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)