A last-minute goal by Japan’s Masahiko Inoha ended the run of hosts Qatar in the quarter-finals at the Asian Cup yesterday, as Uzbekistan reached the sem-ifinals for the first time at the expense of Jordan.

Qatar fought valiantly against a technically superior Japan side. They took the lead twice and had a one-man advantage for the last half-hour after Maya Yoshida was sent off for two bookings.

However, with extra time beckoning, fullback Inoha rammed the ball home after good work by the outstanding Shinji Kagawa, who scored Japan’s other two goals, to secure a 3-2 victory.

Japan will face South Korea or Iran in Tuesday’s first semi. Uzbekistan beat Jordan 2-1 to set up a meeting with Iraq or Australia in the other last-four match.

Jordan and Qatar were the only real surprises in the quarterfinal lineup, and while neither could stretch their runs any further, both teams contributed to two absorbing matches.

“Qatar should be very proud of its players,” said the host team’s French coach Bruno Metsu. “The players were disappointed tonight and some of them were crying. We should use this time to raise the morale.

“I think the Qatari team produced an amazing performance in tonight’s match.”

The game was played in front of a 20,000-strong crowd at the Gharafa Stadium of mainly Qatar fans, who saw their team deliver a performance that suggested Qatar is on track to produce a competitive team for its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

After a goalless first half, the second quarter-final between Uzbekistan and Jordan burst into life with a flurry of goals after halftime.

Ulugbek Bakaev, a late inclusion in the squad because of an injury withdrawal, took advantage of poor defending to score twice in four minutes and though Jordan had chances to equalize after Bashar Bani Yaseen cut the deficit in the 58th, Uzbekistan held on to reach the semifinals for the first time.

Australia and defending champions Iraq meet in the first quarter-final today, with Holger Osieck’s Australia team hoping to avoid a repeat of its disastrous debut at the Asian Cup when it began as one of the title favorites in 2007 but lost to Japan on penalties in the last eight.

South Korea’s encounter with in-form Iran, inspired by its charismatic coach Afshin Ghotbi, could be the pick of the quarterfinals. The two teams meet for the fifth time in a row at this stage, each having won two of the previous four.