In the 1/4 finals of the Asian Cup, Qatar edged Uzbekistan in a penalty shootout to advance. The match itself finished 1:1 in regular time, with Uzbekistan’s Odiljon Khamrobekov finding the back of the net and Uzbekistan winger Utkir Yusupov accidentally directing a ball into his own goal, altering the tone of the game. The deciding moments came from the spot, where Qatar prevailed 3:2, with Pedro Miguel delivering the clinching penalty and sending his country through to the next stage. (citation: Asian Football Confederation)
The triumph secured Qatar’s place in the semi-finals, ultimately contributing to their run in the tournament. In the history of the Asian Cup, Japan holds the record for the most titles with four championships, the last one achieved in 2011. That enduring legacy places Japan among the competition’s most successful sides. (citation: Asian Football Confederation)
Israel’s national team won the Asian Cup once, lifting the trophy in 1964. Since then, Israel has competed in European football structures, joining the UEFA confederation and participating in its tournaments. (citation: AFC historical records)
On February 2, Tajikistan faced Jordan in a quarterfinal clash. Tajikistan clinched victory through a single goal, scored in the 66th minute when Tajik midfielder Vakhdat Khanonov inadvertently redirected a cross into his own net. (citation: Asian Cup match reports)
Earlier in the tournament, Iran reached the semifinals, continuing its long-standing presence in Asia’s premier national-team competition. (citation: Asian Cup archives)