Hosts Qatar ended their Asian Games experience on a high by collecting the last gold medal on offer by beating Iraq 1-0 in the final of the men's football.
With both teams struggling to create chances in open play, it was fitting that the goal was to come from a corner as Bilal Mohammed Rajeb guided the ball home in the 63rd minute.
The victory made Qatar just the second Arab country to win the title, following Iraq's gold medal effort in 1982.
Iraqi coach Yahya Manhel was gracious in defeat and felt the future was bright for Iraqi football.
"I should think that taking silver in such an important competition with 32 countries involved with a team mostly of players aged under 20 is a very good start and I am very hopeful the future will be really good," said Manhel.
"It would of course have made a huge impact on the people back home if we had won gold."
His Qatari counterpart Dzemaludin Musovic felt that his team has fulfilled their destiny.
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| The victors |
"From the first game I knew our players deserved the gold medal," admitted the Bosnian.
"I knew we had to use this opportunity to show we were the best.
"Iraq played well tonight and they were the best team to play against us."
Qatari midfielder Wesam Abdulmajid said it was a dream come true.
"Finally we reached our goal and we obtained the gold medal," said the 25-year-old.
While disappointed, Iraqi captain Ali Rehema was proud of his team's performance.
"We played well in the match and we have made a great effort during this tournament," he said.
Early chances
The home side had an early chance in the sixth minute when Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Soria beat his marker to a corner but it cannoned off the post with the 'keeper Mohammed Khadum well beaten.
Qatar should have gone ahead in the 30th minute as a beautifully floated freekick by Ali Nasser Saleh found Abdullah Obaid Koni totally unmarked five metres out and with a free header.
But the 27-year-old failed to even connect with the ball and slapped the post in frustration.
Iraq's sole chance of the first half came with 10 minutes as Alaa Khashen went on a mazy run cutting right into the heart of the defence but he was greedy and failed to pass to Karrar Muhamed who was unmarked in the area and the chance went begging.
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| The vanquished |
The second-half saw both sides lacking a cutting edge in attack but just as people starting thinking about extra time Qatar broke through.
A Majdi Abdulla's Sidiq corner was flicked on at the near post by Abdulmajid and tamely palmed out by Khadum.
The ball struck Majed on the side of his head as he looked to his right and went into the net.
Qatar looked to have scored a second a couple of minutes later as Quintana prodded into the net but the linesman correctly called him for offside.
Quintana should have all but wrapped it up with 20 minutes remaining when he was set free on the right of the box but with just the keeper to beat his shot hit the side netting.