Title-chasing Iran survived a first-minute penalty in a chaotic start to beat Oman
2-0 and reach the Asian Cup quarter-finals on Sunday.

Beanpole goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand saved from the spot before goals from Alireza Jahanbakhsh and Ashkan Dejagah in Abu Dhabi sent Iran through to face China, who beat Thailand 2-1 in an early kickoff.

Beiranvand saved a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty at last year's World Cup and he plunged to his right to brilliantly deny Oman captain Ahmed Al-Mahaijri and prevent Oman taking a shock lead just moments into the game.

Iran, who are looking to end a 43-year-old Asian Cup title drought, broke through after 32 minutes when Brighton forward Jahanbakhsh latched onto a hopeful long ball to poke the ball past Oman goalkeeper Faiyz Al-Rusheidi.

"Team Melli" captain Dejagah lashed home a penalty four minutes before the break after Mehdi Taremi had been brought down.

Beiranvand produced an acrobatic save to keep out Muhsen Al-Ghassani's long-range strike just before the half-time whistle.

Sardar Azmoun -- dubbed the "Iranian Messi" -- twice fluffed his lines after the interval when it looked easier to score.

Taremi subsequently squandered two gilt-edged chances, but Iran were largely content to see out a one-sided game.

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