Monday 12 / May / 2025
ABU DHABI: Qatar punished hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 in on Tuesday to reach their first Asian Cup final.
The Qataris, face Japan in Friday's final after goals from Boualem Khoukhi, Almoez Ali, Hasan Al Haydos and Hamid Ismaeil sealed victory for the 2022 World Cup hosts in Abu Dhabi.
As they celebrated victory and a record sixth clean sheet at a single Asian Cup, midfielder Salem Al Hajri was hit on the head after their third.
Qatar quickly burst into life as a meaty tackle from Bandar Al Ahbabi on Akram Afif put the Qatari midfielder up in the air.
But Qatar drew first blood after 21 minutes when Khoukhi's shot squirted under UAE goalkeeper Khalid Eisa, to the horror of a hostile crowd of 38,000.
Qatar exacted swift retribution eight minutes before the break, Ali smashing home a right-footed shot from the edge of the box to equal Ali Daei's 1996 record of eight goals in a single Asian Cup.
As the Sudan-born striker celebrated with his team mates, the atmosphere began to turn sinister.
UAE almost pulled a goal back after the interval when Ali Mabkhout's deflected shot forced Saad Al Sheeb into a fingertip save before substitute Ahmed Khalil also tested Al Sheeb's reflexes.
But Qatar never looked seriously threatened and captain Al Haydos coolly chipped in a third to spark more anger from the UAE fans.
Defender Ismail Ahmed was then shown a red card in stoppage time for an elbow on Al Hajri before Ismaeil added a fourth to compound UAE's misery.
