Ahmed Alaa and captain Abdelkarim Hassan got their names on the scoresheet either side of half-time to secure all three points for Felix Sanchez’s side and put them firmly in command of Group A.

"To reach six points after two games is the best situation, but we’re still not qualified for the second round," said Sanchez.

"It was a tough game from the beginning.

"Iran is a great team, one of the best in the competition, but I think we played a good game and we deserved the three points.

"Now is the time to enjoy it because we have our final [group stage] game in three days."

Ali Karimi scored on the stroke of full-time for Iran, who missed a second-half penalty through captain Roozbeh Cheshmi when trailing 2-0.

Forward Arsalan Motahhari twice came close with headers before being brought down in the area by Qatar's Ahmed Yasser, who gave Malaysian referee Mohd Amirul no option but to point to the spot.

Cheshmi saw his attempt from 12 yards saved by Muhannad Naim however, with the goalkeeper diving to his right to push the ball to safety.

"We dominated the game but at the end they’re not going to give any points to the better players, but to the team that scores the most goals," said Iran coach Mohammad Khakpour.

"My captain, I’m really proud of him and the other players because they did their best, they were putting 100 per cent into the game and missing the penalty is just part of the game."

The day’s earlier match in Group A saw Omar Kharbin mark his 22nd birthday with a brace as Syria came from behind to beat China 3-1 at the Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, and bounce back from their 2-0 defeat against Iran on Tuesday (January 12). 

Liao Lisheng had given China the lead with a first half free-kick, just as he had done in his country’s 3-1 loss at the hands of Qatar. 

But the turning point came on the stroke of half-time as frontman Kharbin converted from the penalty spot after China goalkeeper Du Jia was sent off for bringing down Mahmood Al Baher in the area.

Kharbin struck again nine minutes into the second-half to put Syria into the lead and the win was sealed when Al Baher found the back of the net late on.  

"I am very happy today because we have to win today and we won," said Syria coach Muhanad Al Fakeer.

"I think we played a good match.

"We tried to press on China, but in the first 20 minutes we brought the last match with us to the field and I could see my players fearing they would lose.

"But after 20 minutes we used the sides very well and we were lucky because the China goalkeeper had a red card and it made the match easier for us."

The final round of Group A matches are scheduled to take place on Monday (January 18) as Qatar face Syria, and Iran meet China.

Tomorrow’s action sees the return of Group B and Group C.

The first match in Group B pits Thailand against Japan before North Korea play Saudi Arabia.

Yemen and South Korea take on one another in Group C, after which Uzbekistan challenge Iraq.

Three teams at the tournament will qualify for Rio 2016.