Debutants Tajikistan booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup Qatar with a dramatic 5-3 penalty shootout win over the United Arab Emirates at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan Sunday.
Alisher Shukurov buried the final spot-kick to send the Central Asians into a showdown with either Jordan or Iraq. Tajikistan goalkeeper Rustam Yatimov saved from Caio Canedo with the UAE's second penalty of the shootout.
(Tajikistan looked set for a famous victory when Vakhdat Khanonov scored with a 30th-minute header, only for Khalil al-Hammadi to equalise in the 95th minute and send the game into extra-time.)
Earlier, Australia became the first team to qualify for the last eight when they beat Indonesia 4-0 at Jassim bin Hamid Stadium. The Socceroos will face South Korea or Saudi Arabia in the quarter-finals.
Meanwhile, hosts and holder Qatar take on Palestine in last 16 at Al Bayt Stadium Monday, while Iraq face Jordan in another clash at the Khalifa International Stadium.