Jordan shocks South Korea to qualify for the final for the first time
February 7, 2024
Jordanian players celebrate winning the AFC Asian Cup semi-final match between Jordan and South Korea at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, February 6, 2024. REUTERS
Jordanian players celebrate winning the AFC Asian Cup semi-final match between Jordan and South Korea at Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar, February 6, 2024. REUTERS
AL RAYYAN (QATAR): Jordan surprised two-time champions South Korea 2-0 in the semi-final match to make history for the first time to qualify for the final stage of the 2023 Asian Cup last night.
In the clash at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium here, Jordan's two goals came in the second half with Yazan Al-Naimat putting the team in front before Mousa Al-Tamari's goal completed a glorious night for The Chivalrous squad coached by Hussein Ammouta.
Both teams played a quick and counter-attacking game in the first half with possession more in South Korea's favor, but Jordan created more scoring chances with four accurate attempts, forcing Jo Hyeon-woo to work hard in goal.
Jordan, who was making their first appearance at the semi-final stage, gave an early warning in the 18th minute when Noor Al-Rawabdeh's shot from outside the penalty area was deflected out by Hyeon-woo before the 32-year-old goalkeeper denied Al-Naimat's close-range effort in the minute. the 25th.
The Ulsan Hyundai goalkeeper denied Jordan a golden chance to take the lead in the 42nd minute, saving Al-Naimat's close-range shot after the striker had dribbled past three South Korean defenders.
Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min's goal was disallowed in the 19th minute for offside before Lee Jae-sung's close-range header, which met Hwang In-beom's pass from the right, only rattled the post in the 32nd minute.
The Taegeuk Warriors' best chance to take the lead came late in extra time in the first period, when an unmarked Hwang in the penalty box failed to finish Seol Young-woo's pass from the left, seeing the ball soar over Jordan's crossbar.
Entering the second half, South Korea continued to struggle with Jordan's flurry of attacks before Hyeon-woo finally lost after Al-Naimat who received Al-Tamari's pass calmly fired a shot to put the team in front in the 53rd minute.
Al-Tamari then highlighted the shortcomings of South Korea's defensive line when he easily passed the control of the opposing players before unleashing a left-footed shot from outside the penalty box that headed into the bottom left corner of the goal to score the team's second goal in the 66th minute.
Al-Naimat and Al-Tamari's goal was their third goal this campaign.
Trailing 0-2, Jurgen Klinsmann's South Korea tried to get back up, but failed to find the finisher and had to concede failure in their mission to end their 64-year wait to claim their third title since the last time they won it in 1960.
Awaiting Jordan in the final stage this Saturday are defending champions Qatar and three-time champions Iran who will make up the semi-final action at the Al Thumama Stadium in Doha tomorrow.
