From a starting field of 24 teams, only an exclusive eight remain, with four mouth-watering matches - each containing a former champion - set to be played on Thursday and Friday.

Al Rawi struck in the second half of a fascinating encounter, one which swung one way and then the other before being settled by the number 15's superb effort at an atmospheric Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The victory leaves Qatar on course for a first-ever Continental crown and they will now meet Korea Republic in the last eight on Friday.

Substitute Kim Jin-su was the Korea Republic hero with his headed winner at the tail end of the first period of extra-time and the two-time champions will now face either Qatar or Iraq, who play later on Tuesday, in the last eight at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Sports City Stadium on Friday.

Bahrain can walk tall despite the defeat as they took the match to the Koreans and in scoring, became the first team in the tournament to breach the East Asians defence.

Ryan denied Islom Tukhtakhujaev and Dostonbek Khamdamov in the shootout after the game had gone through 120 minutes without a goal to set up a last eight meeting with hosts the United Arab Emirates.

“I was happy to be able to contribute to the team,” said the Brighton & Hove Albion keeper.

“That situation for a goalkeeper is a very important one and if you can contribute to the team and help them get through and be the winning team at the end that’s the objective and thankfully tonight, I was able to make that contribution. “

Haijme Moriyasu’s team opted to play defensively and it was a move that paid off for the Samurai Blue as they kept their bid for a record-extending fifth Continental title on track.

Japan’s win came courtesy of Takehiro Tomiyasu’s header in the 20th minute but they found themselves defending for the major part of the match.

However, Moriyasu’s men held off the West Asians to earn a spot in the quarter-finals where they will face Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam on Thursday.

Khalil came off the bench to seal the win by converting a penalty in the 103rd minute of an absorbing encounter, the second time he has rescued his side following the 27-year-old’s successful spot-kick in the final moments of the UAE’s 1-1 draw with Bahrain on Matchday One.

The victory helped set up an intriguing quarter-final tie with Australia, with Khalil eager to reflect on the importance of the UAE’s hard-fought victory against tournament debutants Kyrgyz Republic.

After Azmoun had been caught on camera suggesting which way Beiranvand should dive, the Persepolis custodian’s outstretched right-hand repelled Ahmed Al Mahaijri’s spot-kick in the opening moments of the game which saw Team Melli go through to the quarter-finals.

Having already saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo at last year’s FIFA World Cup, Beiranvand’s heroics in the United Arab Emirates only added to his burgeoning reputation, with the 26-year-old saying that his primary aim when facing Al Mahaijri was not to let his country down.