A cool Mehdi Taremi finish in the 51st minute after breaking clear of the Qatar defence was the difference between the two sides and leaves Iran four points clear at the top of Group A with just four games to play.

For Qatar, the defeat, after other results on Thursday, means they are now bottom of the group, six points off the automatic qualification spots.

Iran now play China at home on March 28, with Qatar playing the same day in Uzbekistan.