Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Qatar produced a scintillating display to beat Saudi Arabia 2-0 and clinch top spot in their Asian Cup group after a contest bristling with political animosity on Thursday.

Almoez Ali bagged a double in Abu Dhabi, where the Qatari national anthem was drowned out by boos from a pro-Saudi crowd and the 2022 World Cup hosts were jeered every time they attacked.

Both teams had already qualified from Group E after winning their first two matches and it was Saudi Arabia who almost broke through after 22 minutes when striker Fahad Almuwallad slammed a right-foot shot against the post.

Qatar captain Hasan Al Haydos missed a penalty in the 42nd minute after Almoez had been clattered in the box.

But Almoez, who plundered four goals in Qatar's 6-0 rout of North Korea last weekend, made no mistake in first-half stoppage time.

He calmly slotted the ball past Saudi goalkeeper Mohammed Alowais to stun the partisan crowd and become the first player to score six goals in a single Asian Cup since South Korea's Lee Dong-gook in 2000.

Almoez subsequently headed in a seventh goal of the tournament 10 minutes from time.

Qatar, who have never gone beyond the quarter-finals, advance to face Iraq in the last 16 while three-time winners Saudi Arabia take on Japan.