Qatar beat Iran in Asian Cup thriller to return to final

Hosts and defending champions Qatar edged Iran 3-2 in a thrilling Asian Cup semi-final on Wednesday with striker Almoez Ali scoring the winner to set up a title clash with Jordan.

In an end-to-end game at Al Thumama Stadium, Ali netted in the 82nd minute while Iran lost Shojae Khalilzadeh to a late red card in stoppage time as Iran coach Amir Ghalenoei lost for the first time since he took charge last year.

Qatar will take on Jordan in the final 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 told 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 failed to deal with a long throw-in and Sardar Azmoun scored with an overhead kick to give Ghalenoei's side a third-minute lead.

Iran constantly got in behind Qatar's defence but it was the hosts who equalised against the run of play when Jassem Gaber's shot from range took a deflection and looped over goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand into the net.

Qatar's Akram Afif nearly made it 2-1 when the ball fell to him and he raced away with Iran's defenders giving chase but his shot was well saved while his effort from the rebound went over the bar.

But Afif got his fifth goal of the tournament on the stroke of halftime when he waltzed into the box from the left channel and pulled the trigger to beat Beiranvand with a shot that arrowed past his outstretched hand into the top corner.

However, Iran came out with renewed vigour for the second half and won