Qatar defy abuse to reach Asian Cup quarters

Qatar were once again subjected to a torrent of abuse from fans in Abu Dhabi over the long-running Gulf blockade of the oil-rich country. But Bassam Alrawi silenced the haters on 62 minutes when he curled in a free-kick to take the Qataris into the last eight for a third time.

It was Qatar's fourth win in four games this tournament after topping their group and the least they deserved from a politically charged clash brimming with passion, if low on genuine quality. Iraq, shock Asian Cup winners in 2007 and semi-finalists four years ago, carried very little attacking threat until Atalanta's Ali Adnan fizzed a free-kick just wide 12 minutes from time.

Seemingly more interested in snarling at the referee every time a decision went against them, Iraq ultimately paid for their lack of ambition. At the final whistle, their players slumped to the turf, several sobbing uncontrollably as jeers rang out from the crowd. Qatar enjoyed the best of the early skirmishes, Abdelkarim Hassan volleying against the bar before Hatim Abdelaziz missed a sitter on the stroke of half-time.

Sudan-born forward Almoez Ali, who needs one more goal to equal Ali Daei's record of eight in a single Asian Cup, had a quiet night, but kept his powder dry for Friday's quarter-final