The game started like it should later end, with a mistake in Iran's defense, as Ehsan Hajsafi brought Pejman Nouri under pressure with a dangerous pass. Nouri turned the ball over and it was quickly played to Afif, who perfectly finished from the edge of the area (6').
Things turned from bad to worse four minutes later, when a cross from the right was headed into the net, the completely mispositioned Beikzadeh losing the duel in the air.
But Iran wasn't really shocked and overtook control of the proceedings and finally pulled a goal back seven minutes from halftime, when Milad Meydavoudi for once managed to hold on to the ball in attack and found Mohammad Nouri at the edge of the box, who laid off for Milad Zeniedpour, who hammered the ball past the goalkeeper brilliantly.
Iran kept on pressuring the hosts defense, but failed to equalize before the halftimewhistle, however, managed to do so just two minutes into second half, when Ehsan Hajsafi hammered the ball into the net after a corner kick.
The visitors remained the better side until the final whistle, but failed to capitalize on their numerous chances.
Qatar barely created danger, but should have retained the lead after 70 minutes, but instead hit the woodwork twice within seconds.
Iran always looked like being able to score, but it was Qatar who scored the winner, completely against the run of play to punish Iran for their waste of scoring opportunities.
The final long ball of the game towards Iran's right defensive side could easily be intercepted by Kaebi, however, instead of simply hitting the ball away, the nimble rightback tried to control the ball with his chest, losing it to an advancing striker at the edge of the area who chipped the ball past an again chanceless Rahmati.
Iran will next face Mali on Wednesday, who also lost their first game. while Qatar will take on North Korea.
Qatar - Iran 3-2 (2-1)
Qatar Torunament, Doha
Goals:
1-0 Afif (6')
2-0 (10')
2-1 Zeniedpour (38' / M. Nouri)
2-2 Hajsafi (47')
3-2 (94')
Iran: Rahmati - Beikzadeh (63' G. Rezaei), Aghili, Hosseini, Hajsafi - P. Nouri, M. Nouri (46' Teymourian) -Khalatbari, Zeniedpour, Kaebi - Meydavoudi (81' Khalili)
Iranian players booked: P. Nouri, Khalatbari