Qatar's Almoez Ali celebrates after scoring during the 2019 AFC Asian Cup group E match between Saudi Arabia and Qatar at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, Jan. 17, 2019. Qatar won the match 2-0. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
ABU DHABI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Almoez Ali scored twice to earn Qatar finishing top of Group E by defeating Saudi Arabia 2-0 in the 2019 Asian Cup here on Thursday.
Ali, who is the fourth player in Asian Cup history to score four in a single game after Qatar smashed DPR Korea 6-0, netted in either half to lead tournament scoring list with seven goals.
Saudi Arabia should have broken through in the 20th minute but unmarked Hussain Almoqahwi fired over after Yahya Alshehri cushioning down a cross in the box. Two minutes later, Fahad Al Muwallad's shot from the right side of the box beat Qater's goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb but hit the outside of the post.
The tournament's top scorer Ali granted a penalty for Qater but Hasan Al Haydos' tame penalty was saved by Mohammed Al Owais on 42 minutes.
However, A huge error by the Saudi Arabia's defence gave Ali an one-on-one opportunity two minutes before the break. He released an cool shot into the bottom right corner, becoming the first player to score six goals in a single Asian Cup since South Korea's Lee Dong-Gook made it in 2000.
Qater thought they would be taking a 2-0 lead 15 minutes into the second half when Ali headed in the net from a corner but the goal was ruled out by the referee for a foul on keeper.
Saudi Arabia pushed hard and caused anxious moments for Qatar until Ali took his brace in another corner kick in the 80th minute, jumping to head the ball in and score his seventh goal in three games.
In the round of 16 knockouts, Qatar will face Iraq and Saudi Arabia take on four-times champions Japan.
