Younis Mahmoud scored twice as Iraq advanced to the semi-finals of the AFC Asian Cup for the first time since 1976 with victory over Vietnam in Bangkok on Saturday.

The Iraq skipper headed his side ahead after only two minutes and sealed victory with a free-kick midway through the second half as the Middle Eastern side finally reached the last four after falling at the quarter-finals of the last three Asian Cups.

Jorvan Vieira's side will travel to Kuala Lumpur for a semi-final clash with either Iran or South Korea on Wednesday.

Appearing at the Asian Cup for the first time since 1960, co-hosts Vietnam had surprised many by advancing past the group stage.

But if Alfred Riedl's side were looking to ease themselves into the match, they were given a rude awakening as the Iraqis went ahead within 90 seconds of the opening whistle.

From a free-kick on the left flank, Nashat Akram swung in an inviting high ball that was met by Mahmoud, who rose unchallenged to plant a downward header past goalkeeper Duong Hong Son from eight yards out.

Akram very nearly extended his side's advantage in the fifth minute when he found an opening just outside the right edge of the Vietnamese box but fired his shot across the face of goal.

The Iraqis enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but appeared content to play within themselves for much of the time and created few real efforts on goal.

But their lead was rarely threatened as Vietnam struggled to make any headway against the Iraqi defence, doing little to trouble Noor Sabri until the 19th minute when Le Cong Vinh fired a dipping long-range effort straight into the arms of the Iraqi goalkeeper.

As the match approached half-time the two teams began to show some added urgency with Iraq nearly extending their advantage as Mahmoud fired over the Vietnamese crossbar, while Akram shot into the side-netting from a tight angle after being played in by Mahdi Karim's neat through ball.

Just before the interval, the Vietnamese created their best effort of the half as Nguyen Vu Phong met Chau Phong Hoa's cut-back from the left byline with a shot that was cleared off the line by Ahmed Abid Ali.

Noor Sabri had to be alert early in the second half as Vu Phong struck a wicked inswinging free-kick from the left flank that the Iraq goalkeeper had to punch away.

Iraq were still creating the best efforts though, Nashat Akram lashing the ball wide from the edge of the box in the 58th minute and Karrar Jassim firing in a low left-footed shot that forced Hong Son into a fine save four minutes later.

And the Iraqi pressure finally told on 66 minutes when Karrar Jassim was fouled 20 yards from goals and Mahmoud curled the ball past Hong Son with almost effortless ease to put Iraq two goals up

The two-goal cushion was more than enough against a tired-looking Vietnamese side and it was really a question in the closing minutes of whether Mahmoud could complete his hat-trick.

He very nearly did after 77 minutes when he met Mahdi Karim's cross with a solid header that was only kept out by a magnificent diving save by Hong Son.

The Iraqi captain would be denied once again deep into injury time when the Iraqis broke on the counter-attack and Mahmoud fired a shot across goal which was brilliantly tipped aside by Hong Son.