Host Qatar reached the final of the Asian Cup against Iran in a thrilling game and can therefore continue to hope for title number two.
Host Qatar has reached the final of the Asian Cup and can therefore continue to hope for title number two.
In the semi-finals, the 2019 Asian champions defeated Iran 3-2 (2-1) with a late goal in a thrilling game with several lead changes. In the final, Spanish coach Tintin Marquez’s team will face Jordan on Saturday (4 p.m.).
Serdar Azmoun meets artistically
Iran got off to a better start. Former Bundesliga professional Serdar Azmoun artistically scored to make it 1-0 in the fourth minute. Jassem Gaber (17th) equalized for the hosts with a long-range shot, and Akram Afif (43rd) even took the lead shortly before half-time. The four-time title holders from Iran then took control again, but failed to add another goal after the score was 2-2 thanks to a hand penalty converted by Alireza Jahanbakhsh (51′). Instead, Almoez Ali (82nd) shook the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha with the winning goal for Qatar.
In a turbulent final phase with further good chances on both sides, Iran’s Shoja Khalilzadeh (90th + 3) was shown a red card. Qatar’s final opponent Jordan sensationally knocked South Korea, coached by Jürgen Klinsmann, out of the tournament in the first semi-final on Tuesday (2-0). Against the South Koreans, who are clearly superior on paper, Yazan Al-Naimat (53rd) and Musa Suleimani (66th) scored the goals to reach the historic final in the Ahmed bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan. This means the surprise team has a chance of winning the title for the first time on Saturday.