In Pictures
Photos: Qatar reach AFC Asian Cup final with 3-2 victory against Iran
Defending champions Qatar battle through an ill-tempered match with Iran to book a place in the final against Jordan.
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-6.59.01-PM-1-1707328097.jpeg?resize=1170%2C780&quality=80)
From the first minute of a breathless match, Qatar and Iran went directly at each other when in possession and they delivered a treat to watch.
Iran opened the scoring in the third minute with Sardar Azmoun producing a brilliant overhead kick, leaving the Qatari goalkeeper and the defence as spectators.
Jassam Gaber got the equaliser on 17 minutes and Akram Afif gave Qatar a 2-1 lead minutes before half time, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Iran’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh drew Iran level with a penalty after Qatar’s Ahmed Fathy was penalised for a handball.
Local hero Almoez Ali restored Qatar’s lead on 82 minutes, setting up a breathless finale as Iran threw everything they had at Qatar.
Iran struck the post and won a multitude of corners – with the goalkeeper sent forward in a desperate search for an equaliser – but Qatar held on to secure their passage to the final where they will meet Jordan.
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.08.37-PM-1707318568.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.30.33-PM-1707328004.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.30.30-PM-1707328775.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)

![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.48.13-PM-1-1707328056.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.22.21-PM-2-1707319482.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-6.20.39-PM-1707328066.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Showkat Shafi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-4.58.59-PM-1707318145.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-5.38.10-PM-1707328023.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-6.47.59-PM-1707324552.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-6.42.36-PM-1707324504.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)

![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-7.19.40-PM-1707326483.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)
![Iran vs Qatar – AFC Asian Cup 2023 semifinal [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera]](/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/WhatsApp-Image-2024-02-07-at-7.23.40-PM-1707326733.jpeg?fit=1170%2C780&quality=80)