Defending champions Bahrain ended their Group B campaign on seven points while Qatar advanced ahead of Kuwait on goal difference thanks to Tameem Al Abdullah’s late equaliser against UAE.
Bahrain will play Oman on Monday while Qatar will take on hosts Iraq in the other last-four tie.
Bahrain 1-1 Kuwait
Bahrain came into the tie only needing a draw to advance after having won their earlier two matches while victory was imperative for Kuwait to keep their campaign alive.
Defending champions Bahrain, however, started on the front foot and took the lead through Mahdi Al Humaidan (pictured below, left) in the 26th minute.
Going behind forced Kuwait into a more attacking mode as they pressed forward in numbers.
Their aggression paid off just before the half-time whistle with Shabib Al Khaldi equalising.
Needing to win, Kuwait dominated possession in the second half but suffered a setback when Hamad Al Qallaf was sent off in the 68th minute as Bahrain held on to claim top spot and keep their hopes of retaining the title alive.
Qatar 1-1 UAE
Despite having suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bahrain on Matchday Two, Qatar knew a win would put them through to the semi-finals.
The reigning AFC Asian Cup winners, however, found the already-eliminated UAE a tough nut to crack.
UAE, having lost their previous two matches, were determined to exit on a high and stunned Qatar by taking the lead through Fabio Lima in the 77th minute.
Qatar, however, fought back and and their determination paid dividends two minutes from the end of regulation time when Al Abdullah leveled the tie to take them through to the semi-finals.
Semi-finals
Monday
Iraq v Qatar (16:15 – UTC+3)
Bahrain v Oman (20:15 – UTC+3)
Monday
Iraq v Qatar (16:15 – UTC+3)
Bahrain v Oman (20:15 – UTC+3)
Source: The-AFC.com
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