Vinay Nayudu
Doha
Just when everyone thought that defending champions Qatar had not faced a challenging enough opposition and that three-time AFC Asian Cup 2023 winners Iran posed a big threat to them in the semi-final, the hosts brought out their quality scoring a telling come-from-behind 3-2 win at a packed Al Thumama Stadium to storm into the final.
Qatar will play Jordan in Saturday’s final at Lusail Stadium, where Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup for Argentina in 2022.
Almoez Ali fired Qatar into the final with an 82nd-minute winner in what was a frenetic encounter.
The 22-odd minutes soon after the deciding goal of the match saw the 40,432 fans roar the arena alive with the crescendo just refusing to die down. Such was the euphoria.
It did make Iran’s hopes of scoring another equalizer of the match impossible. On the contrary their desperation saw them being reduced to 10-men with Shoja Khalilzadeh being sent off for a foul on Akram Afif (90+3’).
Team Melli, however, played their hearts out and had luck to rue as an Alireza Jahanbakhsk shot went on to hit the far left post in the 14th minute of stoppage time.
Qatar too had some chances to increase their winning lead but Afif and Ali both couldn’t strike a finish.
The paced action at both ends of the goal had the spectators on their feet.
In the end, it was the bravado of the Al Annabi that stood, who have now won thirteen games in a row in the tournament since their fairytale maiden trophy triumph in the UAE in 2019.
Iran had fired the opening salvo with Sardar Azmoun making a successful overhead kick into the back of the net in the fourth minute. Qatar hit back soon with a deflected equalizer from Jassem Gaber in the 17th minute and the mercurial Akram Afif scoring his fifth goal of the tournament with a brilliant individual effort in the 43rd - cutting into the box and lashing a shot beyond Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand.
Iran leveled the game again six minutes into the second half from the penalty spot as Alireza Jahanbakhsh converted after a handball from Ahmed Fathy.
But Ali, who scored nine goals in the 2019 tournament, grabbed his second of this campaign when he fired low from inside the box late on.
“I want to apologise to the Iranian people because we had the responsibility to make them happy,” said Iran coach amir Ghalenoei.
“The second half was the best performance we’ve had since I’ve been in charge of the national team.
“But this is football, and if you don’t take your chances then you will be punished.”
The semi-final had got off to the worst possible start for the hosts as Pedro Miguel failed to clear a long throw from Jahanbakhsh and Azmoun pounced with an acrobatic effort into the far corner.
The Iranian fans erupted in celebration with the sound of drums and trumpets filling the stadium.
Qatar had already come from behind against the Palestinian team in the round of 16 and responded impressively again.
Gaber leveled the game through fortuitous circumstances when his shot from the edge of the box looped into the corner after taking a big deflection off Saeed Ezatolahi.
Afif was denied by Beiranvand when he burst into the box and then he stabbed a rebound wide with the keeper on the floor.
But there was no stopping him when he cut into the area shortly before halftime. Stepping inside Ramin Rezaeian, he unleashed a powerful shot into the far corner before Ezatolahi could get a challenge in.
Iran came close to leveling before the break, but Hossein Kanani’s effort was blocked on the line by Lucas Mendes amid appeals for a penalty.
Iran did get a spot kick just after the break as Ezatolahi’s shot hit the hand of Fathy in the box and referee Ahmad Alali awarded a penalty after a VAR review.
Iran went on to dominate the chances in the second half with Qatar forced into some desperate last ditch defending until Almoez turned the ball home after inadvertently getting in the way of substitute Abdulaziz Hatem’s effort from outside the area.
There was still time for more drama as Khalilzadeh was sent off and Jahanbakhsh fired against the post.
Qatar keeper Meshaal Barsham also had to produce a last-gasp save to deny Reza Asadi before the final whistle blew. (input agencies)
