A searing 78th-minute strike from Abdelaziz Hatim ultimately secured the win for Felix Sanchez's side, to eliminate the 2015 runners-up and make it five consecutive wins in the competition.

Ali, a breakout star in the UAE with seven goals in five matches, revealed his delight at the achievement, and said he wants his side to make further history in the competition, starting with Tuesday's semi-final against host nation United Arab Emirates.

A stunning second-half strike from Abdelaziz Hatim saw the Qataris progress to their first-ever AFC Asian Cup semi-final and, in the process, rack up a fifth consecutive victory at the Continental showpiece event.

With host nation the United Arab Emirates set to come for Qatar in the last four, Sanchez, although mindful of the challenge that awaits his young charges, was quick to underline the significance of the result for a side who have become serious title contenders.

A long-range thunderbolt saw Qatar register a 1-0 win over Bento’s charges on Friday, as the Taeguk Warriors failed to progress beyond the AFC Asian Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 2004.

Having scored just six times in their four previous matches, the Koreans were once again culpable of squandering chances when it mattered most and, according to Bento, that inability to convert opportunities into goals ultimately cost his side dear.

With the remaining teams all having proven their quality, the scene is now set for two mouth-watering semi-finals, with the winners to progress to the AFC Asian Cup Final at Abu Dhabi's Zayed Sports City Stadium on February 1.

The tournament hosts had Ali Mabkhout to thank that the game ended after 90 minutes, with the Al Jazira striker scoring the only goal of the game midway through the second half when he capitalised on Milos Degenek’s poor back pass to round Maty Ryan and roll the ball home.

Zaccheroni’s defence then held firm as the Socceroos threw everything forward in an attempt to keep the defence of the title they won on home soil four years ago alive, only for those attempts to flounder.

It has been a magnificent display of football and fair play, showcasing to the world how to bring Asia together.

We commend all members of the Asian football family, the teams, the fans, the media for continuing to elevate the spirit of the game on the field of play with respect, tolerance and unity.

The AFC invites all stakeholders to continue captivating the world through the beautiful game, which is being played with dignity on the football field.

Ritsu Doan's 57th-minute penalty sealed the Samurai Blue's fifth win in a row by a singe-goal margin, securing a place in the final four for the fifth time in the last six editions of the competition.

Like Turkmenistan, Oman and Uzbekistan before them, Vietnam made Hajime Moriyasu's side work hard for the final result, but while a consummate Japanese performance has yet to materialise, Endo said he was pleased with their building momentum.