( CNN ) -- Japan recovered from having a player sent off to snatch a last-gasp 3-2 win over Asian Cup hosts Qatar in Doha and reach the semifinals on Friday . Masahiko Inoha 's late goal ended Qatar 's hopes of qualifying for the last four of the competition for the first time , and maintained Japan 's dream of earning a record fourth title . Albert Zaccheroni 's team will next face either Group D winners Iran or Group C runners-up South Korea , who face off on Saturday . `` After we lost a man we still had more possession , '' the Italian coach told the Asian Cup website . `` It was a great comeback and I could see the good mentality from our players . `` Even though we were a man down , normally teams think about defense , but we did n't -- we had the bravery to keep attacking . '' Qatar , ranked 105th in the world , had reached the knockout stage for just the second time in seven appearances and looked capable of going one better than 2000 's last-eight showing when substitute Fabio Cesar made it 2-1 straight after Maya Yoshida 's 62nd-minute dismissal . Exiled Iran coach aims for historic goal . But Japan battled back as Shinji Kagawa equalized with 20 minutes to play , and the striker was also involved when Inoha scored at the death . Qatar took the lead in the 12th minute when Uruguay-born striker Sebastian Soria beat the offside trap , cut inside past defender Inoha and fired past goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima . Japan , the second-highest ranked team at the 16-team tournament behind fellow 2010 World Cup qualifiers Australia , leveled in the 28th minute through Kagawa . The 21-year-old , who plays for German league leaders Borussia Dortmund , headed home a cross by Shinji Okazaki as the teams went to the break on equal terms . But that balance of power was disrupted 17 minutes after halftime when Yoshida fouled Yusef Ahmed on the edge of the penalty area and Cesar curled in a low effort from the resulting freekick . However , Kagawa claimed his second as he went past Mesaad Ali and beat goalkeeper Qasem Burhan , then his late burst into the box resulted in the ball running free to fullback Inoha for the goal that put Japan through . Qatar coach Bruno Metsu said he would let his players recharge before the beginning of qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in June . `` We will use the time to let the players rest and raise their morale , because they were disappointed to lose . We can be proud of how we played , '' the Frenchman said . `` We frightened them and we were very skilful . We have shown the whole world that Qatar is a strong team . We showed that we can play good football , although we still made mistakes and we conceded goals because of these mistakes . '' Group A winners Uzbekistan beat Group B runners-up Jordan 2-1 in Friday 's second quarterfinal in front of 16,000 fans at Doha 's 40,000-capacity Khalifa Stadium . Uzbekistan will next face either Australia or defending champions Iraq after reaching the semis for the first time , having made it to the last eight in 2004 and 2007 . After a goalless first half , the `` White Wolves '' scored twice in two minutes after the break as striker Ulugbek Bakaev netted on 47 and 49 . The 32-year-old , who played for Russain club CSKA Moscow earlier in his career , broke the deadlock with a header from captain Server Djeparov 's free-kick and then stole in at the near post to convert a low cross . Jordan , also seeking to reach the semifinals for the first time , hit back through Bashar Bani Yaseen in the 57th minute when the defender pounced on a loose ball to score from close range .
Japan defender Masahiko Inoha scores last-minute goal to settle quarterfinal clash . `` Blue Samurai '' will next face either three -time winners Iran or Japan . Hosts Qatar had twice led but Uzbekistan striker Masahiko Inoha responded with three goals . Group A winners Uzbekistan beat Group B runners-up Jordan 2-1 in 57th quarterfinal .