Qatar in football final after historic footy thriller

Hosts Qatar ousted defending champions IR Iran to reach their first ever Asian Games football final - a result which arguably indicates a wind of change about to sweep through West Asian football.

Qatar, who have never picked up an Asian Games football medal, will meet Iraq - surprise 1-0 conquerors of Korea in the day's other semi - in an all-Arab final on Friday 15 December.

Cheered on by a passionate, partisan crowd on Tuesday night, the tournament hosts weren't to be denied glory on home soil and were well worth their win.

"There was no way for us but to win, we were only going for gold," said Qatari forward Adel Lamy Mohd.

Goals in either half sealed the tie. Sebastian Quintana scored the opener in the 28th minute when he neatly brought down a long pass and drilled a stunning left foot shot past Iranian 'keeper Hassan Roudbarian.

Qatar created further openings with former English Premier League player Hussain Yaser Adbulrahman turning the Iranian defence inside outside.

The 22 year-old former Manchester City and Belgian side FC Antwerp player notched the vital second goal in the 74th minute with a 25-yard shot which deflected off a defender and looped over Roudbarian.

"The Iranian players are very good and they are physically strong, but we were able to play fast and better," said Yaser, who has now scored four goals during Doha 2006. "I am so happy because we won and I helped us with my goal," he added.

The game was ill-tempered near the end as five-times winners IR Iran - previously unbeaten in 15 Asian Games matches, a run which had stretched back to 10 December 1998 with a 5-0 thrashing of Tajikistan - pressed forward but were unable to create any clear openings.

Wild celebrations then erupted as the final whistle came at Al-Sadd Sports Club, making the dream reality for Qatar.

Afterwards Qatar forward Yusef Ahmed Ali praised the backing Qatar has received in reaching the final: "I want to congratulate the fans as they have supported us from the beginning of the Games, and all the coaches and technical staff."

Looking ahead to Friday's final, he added: "We will go for the gold but instead of talking about it you will see us play."

Qatar meet Iraq in the men's football final at Al-Gharrafa Sports Club on 15 December, kick-off 15:00. The bronze medal playoff between IR Iran and Korea is a day earlier, 14 December at the same venue, kick-off 17:30.

15th Asian Games, Doha 2006