Iran, said China head coach Marcello Lippi, are the top team in Asia and there is a reason why the Central Asians has occupied the spot.

"Obviously Iran are one of the top teams in Asia, they played well at the (2018) FIFA World Cup and here too, are physically very strong, organised and have very good quality," said Lippi at Wednesday's pre-match press conference.

After beating Oman 2-0 in the Round of 16, the Iranians head into the game having impressively won three of their four games en route to the last eight, and eager to claim what would be the nation’s first Continental crown since 1976.

Team Melli’s last attempt at AFC Asian Cup glory ended at the same stage when they dramatically lost on penalties to Iraq four years ago in Australia.

Although mindful of that result, Queiroz is determined for Iran to put what they have learned between then and now to good use when they face the East Asians.

Supachai Chaided had given the Thais the lead 14 minutes before the end of the first half, but a tactical switch at halftime followed by the introduction of Xiao in the 64th minute turned the game in China’s favour.

“I’m very satisfied,” said Lippi as the Chinese won their first game in the knockout phase of the AFC Asian Cup since the semi-finals of the 2004 tournament on home soil.

Guangzhou R&F striker Xiao levelled the scores in thr 67th minute after Supachai Chaided had given Thailand the lead just after the half hour mark and Gao Lin secured the win for China with a penalty 20 minutes from time.

Xiao’s goal – the 100th of the tournament so far – was key for a China side that dominated the second half but were unable to find a way past Siwarak Tedsungnoen in the Thai goal until the arrival of the veteran forward, who finally ended Thailand’s resistence.

In the end it was a deserved win for a Chinese side that welcomed back Wu Lei to the starting line-up after missing the 2-0 loss against Korea Republic with a shoulder injury while Thailand called up Supachai for the injured Adisak Kraisorn.

Xiao Zhi was presented with a commemorative ball after the match from the AFC.

The 2019 edition of the tournament is the first to produce a century of goals, surpassing the previous record haul of 96, set at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China.

While Xiao's goal brought up a historic milestone, it was also crucial to keeping China PR's UAE 2019 campaign alive.

With Marcello Lippi's men facing a 1-0 deficit, and potential elimination from the competition, the Guangzhou R&F forward scored the equaliser in the 67th minute, just three minutes after being brought into the game as a substitute.

Then just 25, the lanky shot-stopper had established himself as the number one goalkeeper for both club and country, but it was at last year’s FIFA World Cup in Russia that Beiranvand really made his name, saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo and thrusting his name into the international spotlight.

Suddenly everyone in the world knew the name Alireza Beiranvand.

Alireza Jahanbakhsh’s smart finish and an Ashkan Dejagah spot-kick - both in the first half - helped secure Iran’s passage through to the last eight, on a night when Oman were left to rue an early penalty miss.

The victory leaves Carlos Queiroz’s charges still on track to win the nation’s first Continental title since 1976, and looking ahead to Thursday’s meeting with China PR in the next round after the East Asians beat Thailand earlier in the day.