2015 AFC Asian Cup Group C
In the quarter-finals: A brace each from forwards Ahmed Khalil and Ali Mabkhout gave the United Arab Emirates a comprehensive 4–1 win over Arabian Gulf Cup champions Qatar in their opener at Canberra Stadium.
An even opening spell in Australia's capital saw two teams intent on attack, and inside the first 10 minutes there was goalmouth action at either end of the field as Khalil and Mabkhout both saw efforts ruffle the side-netting, while Qatari defender Abdulaziz Hatem had a dangerous cross turned away at the back post by Mohamed Abdulrahman.
[3] With such an open game in the making, it was no surprise that the first goal came not long after as Majed Naser could only push out Mohammed Muntari’s close range effort as far as Ibrahim who controlled the ball on his chest before delicately sending a flying volley over the stranded goalkeeper on the line.
Qatar coach Djamel Belmadi brought on 2014 WAFF Championship top scorer Boualem Khoukhi after the break to add some cutting edge to his attack, but just six minutes after the restart it was the UAE who went ahead for the first time in the match.
[6] Hajsafi opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time when his volley looped under the bar after Bahrain had partially cleared a corner, while Shojaei doubled Iran's lead in the 71st minute from another set piece.
Iran also had the ball in the net at the half-hour mark but were again denied by the offside flag and, after dominating the rest of the first period, Carlos Queiroz's side deservedly hit the front just before the break when Hajsafi volleyed home.
After a convincing 4–1 victory over Arabian Gulf Cup champions Qatar at Canberra Stadium on 11 January, UAE coach Mahdi Ali made just one change to his starting 11 with Mohamed Ahmad replacing Mohanad Salem in defense.
Mohamed Abdulrahman could have then helped the UAE go two goals to the good after he did well to retain possession inside the penalty area and play in Ahmed Khalil, but the striker could only fire his shot onto the foot of Jaffer's near post.
A Bahraini backpass before the hour mark was punished with a free kick a yard inside the penalty area, and from the dead-ball Omar Abdulrahman clipped the top of the crossbar with a sweetly struck shot.
Shojaei was involved again five minutes from the break as Iran continued to press, only this time his effort was deflected wide for a corner that Andranik Teymourian swung towards the penalty spot before Morteza Pouraliganji's header was cleared off the line by Ahmed Abdul Maqsoud.
On five occasions in the final quarter of the game the man from Charlton Athletic tried his luck, but each time he was unable to find a way past Burhan, but it mattered little as referee Ravshan Irmatov blew the whistle to send Iran into the quarter-finals for a sixth straight AFC Asian Cup.
The Iranians went close again in the final minute of the half, yet Sardar Azmoun's header at the right-hand post was cleared wide in the nick of time by Mohanad Salem as the two teams headed into the intermission on equal terms.
Neither team had any chance of advancing to the knockout rounds after losing their opening matches against Iran and the United Arab Emirates, but Bahrain reclaimed some pride when Jaafar struck to secure the win after Sayed Saeed had put the Bahrainis in front before Hassan Al-Haydos equalised with a second half free kick.
[31] The win ensures Bahrain finished third in Group, but Eid's team were comprehensively outplayed by the Qataris for large periods of the game and the 2011 tournament hosts would have gone into the halftime break wondering how they had not found the back of the net.
With 11 minutes remaining in the half, however, the Al-Riffa striker put his side in the lead when Faouzi Aaish slalomed past two Qatari defenders before cutting the ball back to Shubbar, who steadied himself before sliding a left foot shot over the line.
[32] Midway through the half, though, the Qataris finally claimed the goal their possession play deserved when Al Haydos, their star performer on the evening struck a low free kick that went under the Bahraini wall as it jumped before beating the keeper to his right.
Another pair of missed opportunities from Muntari continued to frustrate the Qataris and, as the young striker grew increasingly despondent, he and his teammates were punished in the harshest manner possible when Jaafar scored the winner with just eight minutes remaining.
