They went through after Uzbekistan drew 2-2 with China to top Group A, allowing Qatar to finish second and make the last eight for the first time since 2000.[break]
Having fallen behind early on, Uzbekistan equalised and then went ahead early in the second period through a fine long-distance effort from one-time CSKA Moscow forward Alexander Geynrikh.
Schalke midfielder Hao Junmin brought the East Asian champions level with a magnificent free-kick but despite sustained pressure China could not find a winner that would have brought qualification down to head-to-head records.
Yu Hai had given China the lead in the sixth minute, in front of a disappointing crowd of just 3,529, with Odil Akhmedov replying for Uzbekistan.
"It´s destiny," said Uzbek coach Vadim Abramov, whose side beat Kuwait and hosts Qatar in their first two matches.
"I want to thank my players because they played very well against Kuwait, Qatar and China and have tried to do their best at all times.
"I don´t want to talk about our defensive play today, but we knew what result we wanted."
Abramov´s team finish top of Group A and will play the runners-up in Group B -- one of Japan, Jordan or Syria.
"I have to say that today was a great match," said China assistant coach Fu Bo, who attended the post-match press conference after coach Gao Hongbo was sent from the touchline for dissent in the dying stages.
"They did very well today -- you can see that all the players tried their best. We were unlucky. It was minor details that cost us victory."
Asked about the reason for Gao´s remonstrations, Fu replied: "Maybe you should ask the referee."
An open start saw both sides threaten, with veteran Uzbek striker Maksim Shatskikh shinning over from six yards and Li Xuepeng drawing a brilliant reaction save from Ignatiy Nesterov at the other end with a glancing header.
From the ensuing corner China took the lead.
Yang Hao whipped the ball in from the Chinese left and Yu Hai´s flicked header at the near post took a slight deflection off Akhmedov´s arm that bamboozled Nesterov.
Uzbekistan sought an immediate reply, with China goalkeeper Yang Zhi forced into a flying one-handed save to repel Server Djeparov´s free-kick.
China had several chances to extend their lead and came close to a glorious second goal when a swerving 25-yard effort from midfielder Zhao Xuri slammed against the bar.
They were made to rue their profligacy on the half hour, as Akhmedov raced onto Djeparov´s slick through-ball down the inside-left channel before dinking the ball into the bottom-right corner to level the scores.
It took a breath-taking save from Nesterov to prevent China restoring their lead in the 36th minute.
Gao Lin´s point-blank header seemed destined for the top-left corner but the Bunyodkor keeper stretched to tip the ball over the crossbar, to the open-mouthed disbelief of the Chinese players and fans.
Uzbekistan caught China cold in the opening seconds of the second half, with Geynrikh picking the ball up in midfield and launching a rising drive that flew into the net from 25 yards.
The momentum swung back in China´s favour 10 minutes later, however, as Hao -- the only member of China´s squad not playing in his homeland -- found the target with a sublime free-kick that arched into the top-left corner.
Gao Lin saw three chances go begging, heading wide when unmarked from 10 yards, shooting over from a tight angle and then stinging Nesterov´s palms with a fierce effort on the turn.
Despite China´s best efforts there was to be no late drama and amid the tension in the closing stages, coach Gao´s complaints about Uzbek time-wasting saw him sent to the stands.
Qatar storm into Asian Cup quarter-finals
Captain Bilal Mohammed got the opening goal on 11 minutes after a blistering start from the 2022 World Cup hosts with Mohamed El Sayed scoring the second five minutes later.
Brazilian-born substitute Fabio Cesar put the game beyond doubt four minutes from time with a beautifully weighted freekick that left the goalkeeper stranded.
It capped a remarkable comeback by Qatar, who lost their opening match to the Uzbeks 2-0 then rebounded to beat China by the same scoreline before Sunday´s heroics.
They now face whoever finishes top in Group B, which will be either Japan, Jordan or Syria, for a place in the semi-finals.
Coach Bruno Metsu said their tournament was only just beginning.
"We have qualified and being the host nation in this tournament it was very important for us to qualify. Today I am very happy," the Frenchman said.
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"We have accomplished what we set out to do but our ambition is to go well beyond this. The fans deserve it."
For Kuwait, it was a reality check after they won the West Asian Football Federation Championship in October on their maiden appearance then followed it up by lifting the Gulf Cup of Nations trophy last month.
They head home with three defeats out of three, although coach Goran Tufegdzic´s job appears to be safe.
"Those two early goals caused big problems for our team," said Tufegdzic.
"In the second half I tried to get us to push forward but it is football. Our team maybe didn´t have enough energy and power. Today Qatar was the better team."
Qatar threw down the gauntlet from the opening whistle in a blistering start with Sebastian Soria sending a header wide after just two minutes and Yusef Ahmed troubling the keeper again soon after.
Metsu said ahead of the game that he wanted an early goal and his team did their best to do as they were told.
Midfield dynamo Lawrence almost put them in front on 10 minutes with a scorching 30-yard freekick that goalkeeper Nawaf Al Khaldi did well to tip over the bar.
But the deadlock didn´t last much longer as Mohammed connected with a cross from Ibrahim Al Ghanim a minute later to head the ball past the flailing arms of Al Khaldi and send the crowd into raptures.
Kuwait were all over the place, barely getting a look in, as Qatar ramped up the pressure and it was 2-0 five minutes later when El Sayed picked up the ball after a goalmouth scramble and buried it in the back of the net.
The furious pace eased after the second goal and the game went off the boil, with Kuwait failing to get any significant shots on goal in the opening 30 minutes.
Their first chance came six minutes before the break when Bader Al Mutwa sent a half-hearted bicycle kick straight into the arms of Qatari keeper Qasem Burhan.
Kuwait started the second period in far more lively fashion but the chances were still elusive with Al Mutwa´s limp 25-yard drive summing up their day.
Their frustrations were clear with defender Hussain Fadhel losing the plot and lucky to escape punishment after shoving Bilal Mohammed in the face after the pair collided.
With Qatar content to sit on their lead and defend, it turned into a midfield tussle before Cesar hammered the final nail in Kuwait´s coffin as the clock ticked down.
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