DOHA, Qatar (AP) — A last-minute goal by Japan’s Masahiko Inoha ended the run of host Qatar in the quarter-finals at the Asian Cup yesterday, as Uzbekistan reached the semi-finals 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 quarter-final line-up, and while neither could stretch their runs any further, both teams contributed to two absorbing matches.

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 are on track to produce a competitive team for their hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni felt the win was reward for his team’s commitment to their attacking style of play, even after the sending off.

Uruguayan-born striker Sebastian Suria was the focal point for the Qatar attack, and he set the tone for an end-to-end encounter by opening the scoring in the 12th minute when he broke the offside trap and cut inside before beating Eiji Kawashima in the Japan goal.

Japan drew level before half-time when Kagawa lobbed the goalkeeper, but the home crowd’s hopes were lifted again when Yoshida was harshly given a second yellow card in the 61st for a challenge on Yusef Ahmed.

To make matters worse for Japan, substitute Fabio Cesar’s low, swerving free kick crept in at the near post, to the embarrassment of Kawashima.

But Borussia Dortmund striker Kagawa finished crisply to make it 2-2 before he was upended in the box, only for the ball to break for Inoha to slam it into the empty net for the winner.

Amid reported interest from Manchester United, Kagawa has apparently been valued at euro20 million by Dortmund, and the 21-year-old forward justified the attention with his performance against Qatar.

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

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 equalise after Bashar Bani Yaseen cut the deficit in the 58th, Uzbekistan held on to reach the semi-finals for the first time.