DPA
Abu Dhabi
A rampaging Qatar set up Asian Cup final with Japan with a 4-0 thrashing of hosts United Arab Emirates in the semi-final on Tuesday.
A goalkeeping error allowed Boualem Khoukhi to open the scoring in the 22nd minute and Almoez Ali's fine strike effectively sealed victory for 2022 World Cup hosts Qatar before the break.
Tournament top scorer Ali had several shoes thrown at him in celebrating his eighth goal overall as UAE fans in Abu Dhabi struggled to accept their team being exposed by a rival. And when Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos made it 3-0 10 minutes from time, another torrent of objects flew from the stands towards the jubilant players.
The UAE’s misery was completed with the late dismissal of Ismail Ahmed for elbowing Salem al Hajri off the ball, and Hamid Khaleefa’s fourth with virtually the last kick.
Qatar players trotted off amid bottles thrown from the stands.
Friday's final pairs Qatar, who had never previously been beyond the last eight, against record four-time champions Japan in the Zayed Sports City Stadium. Japan beat Iran 3-0 in their semi-final on Monday.
Qatarhad won every game to the semi-finals without conceding a goal and were rarely in danger of losing that record against the toothless UAE, despite the intimidating atmosphere of the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium.
With no other option, he sent a half-hearted shot towards goal and looked as surprised as anyone when keeper Khalid Eisa let the ball slip into the far corner.
If that goal was lucky there was no such fortune needed with the second on 37 minutes when Ali was allowed to run at the defence. He opened his body to curl a shot in off the far post to match Iranian great Ali Daei's scoring record at a single tournament.
The 22-year-old's celebration in front of the UAE fans was not appreciated and they responded with a hail of shoes in his direction.
Earlier there had been a hint of frustration boiling over in the stands when Afif was delayed taking a corner as water bottles were thrown.
UAE coach Alberto Zaccheroni introduced the creative Ismaeil Matar half-time and forward Ahmed Khalil soon followed as the veteran Italian went for broke.
Ali Makbout's deflected shot was tipped over, as was a header from Khalil, but Qatar keeper Saad Al Sheeb was untroubled.
Al Haydos ran onto Afif's pass, superbly dummied by Ali, and clipped home the third. The UAE players remonstrated with their fans to behave and there were minor skirmishes between supporters and stewards.
Ahmed was red carded on the advice of the video referee and was cheered off the park by UAE fans desperate for consolation before Khaleefa completed the humiliation in injury-time.
