Yusuf Abdurisag scored the only goal of the game as Qatar defeated Yemen to book their place in the semi-finals of the Arabian Gul Cup.
Akram Afif latched on to Yusuf Abdurisag’s through pass and curled a low shot towards goal, but Mohammed Aman dived to his right to keep the ball out. The goalkeeper then parried Hassan Al Haydos’s powerful drive from distance.
Lopetegui was forced into an early change, with Jassim Jaber replacing the injured Issa Leye.
Yemen posed a threat down the left, where Ayoub Al Aloui struggled to stop D’Mani Bughail-Mellor.
Aman again denied Afif, this time keeping out his first-time shot from Homam Al Amin’s cross.
Qatar’s problems on the right of their defence persisted as Yemen grew in confidence and enjoyed more possession towards the interval. Abdulwasea Al Matari cut inside and unleashed a low strike that Mahmoud Abu Nada turned behind for a corner.
Abdurisag to the rescue
Qatar began the second half brightly, but Aman produced another excellent save to deny Yusuf Abdurisag’s header. Moments later, Boualem Khoukhi headed Afif’s corner inches wide.
Lopetegui turned to his bench, introducing Sultan Al Brake for Al Amin at left-back and replacing Al Haydos with striker Ahmed Alaa.
Al Brake, who has impressed throughout the tournament so far, helped create the opener within minutes. His cross from the left found Edmilson at the far post. He sent the ball back across goal for Abdurisag to take a touch and tap into an empty net.
Edmilson remained a threat as Qatar chased a second, with Alaa striking the post with a shot from a tight angle.
Qatar were awarded a penalty in the 70th minute after Hamza Al Rimi pushed Pedro Miguel inside the area. Aman saved Afif’s spot-kick and Al Rimi cleared the rebound. Television replays showed that the Yemen centre-back had entered the box before the kick was taken, but VAR did not intervene.
Yemen responded by bringing on Adel Abbas and Anes Al Maari for Bughail-Mellor and Al Matari. The changes revived their attack, with Abbas and Nasser Mohammedoh troubling Al Aloui and Miguel with their speed and skill down the left.
Mohammedoh appealed for a penalty after a challenge by Miguel inside the box, but the referee waved play on. He almost snatched an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time, only for Abu Nada to make a fine save to keep out his curling shot from the edge of the area.
Qatar
Mahmoud Abunada
Pedro Miguel
Issa Laye
Jassem Gaber 13′
Yusuf Abdurisag
Hassan Al-Haydos
Ahmed Alaaeldin 60′
Akram Afif
Assim Madibo 87′
Karim Boudiaf
Ayoub Al-Oui
Homam Al-Amin
Sultan Al-Brake 60′
Boualem Khoukhi
Hashim Ali
Edmílson Junior 45′
Yemen
Mohammed Aman
Radhawan Al-Hubaishi
Hamzah Al-Surabi 51′
Hamza Al-Rimi
Harwan Al-Zubaidi
Rami Al Wasmani
Nawaf Abdullah
Omar Al-Golan
Tareq Shihab
Nasser Mohammedoh 46′
Abdulwasea Al Matari
Adel Abbas Qasem 76′
D’Mani Bughail-Mellor
Anes Al-Maari 76′
Mamdooh Ban Agag
Abdul Majeed Sabarah 63′
