Twenty-year-old Sardar Azmoun scored in the second half to lift Iran over Qatar yesterday in a close 1-0 victory.

Iran, the top ranked team in the tournament, had to be patient against a well-organised Qatari defence, before Azmoun broke the deadlock after turning his defender and poking the ball past keeper Qasem Burhan.

“It was a brilliant goal,” said former Real Madrid and Portugal coach Carlos Quieroz. “It was a special movement, a great turn at the level of the best centre forwards I have worked with in my life. For a young player he has a great future in front of him.”

Iran are six points behind UAE, on goal difference, in the group. Qatar and Bahrain are out of contention with a game remaining.

This was only the second Asian Cup finals meeting between these two nations, since Iran’s 2-0 win in 1988, and despite the closeness of the score Iran was never troubled by the 2014 Gulf Cup champions.

“I think we deserved to win the game,” said Quieroz.