Two first-half goals from striker Yusef Ahmed sent Qatar on their way to a 2-0 win over China as the host nation finally joined their own Asian Cup party on Wednesday and began dreaming of a place in the quarter-finals.

Qatar took the lead after 27 minutes of their second Group A game when Ahmed scored the goal of the tournament so far at the Khalifa Stadium.

Collecting a lofted forward pass on his thigh, he smashed a swerving unstoppable volley into the roof of goalkeeper Zeng Cheng's net from the edge of the penalty area to send the crowd into raptures.

Ahmed made it 2-0 on the stroke of halftime when China's imposing captain Du Wei allowed him too much time to turn, shoot and, to his horror, score with a low hooked shot from almost the same place as his first goal.

The victory moved Qatar level with China on three points. Uzbekistan lead with six points while Kuwait are bottom with none.