2023-01-16T15:51:39.000000 Z / Hosts Iraq beat Qatar 2-1 in the very first semi-final of the 25th Arabian Gulf Cup at Basra International Stadium in the southern oil center on Monday.Ibrahim Bayesh put the hosts ahead in the 19th minute, with Amro Siraj promptly netting the equalizer for Qatar nine minutes later.

Aymen Husseins objective in the 43rd minute proved definitive as Qatar was not able to reproduce their kind in the second half against a house side backed by a partisan crowd at the jam-packed 60,000-capacity location.

Iraq will await the outcome of the 2nd semi-final in between protecting champions Bahrain and Oman to understand their challengers for the final to be used January 19.